Madam, - We refer to Kevin Myers's Irishman's Diary of March 20th. As health service employees we welcome Mr Myers's decision to dedicate his column to the crisis facing the provision of health services globally. However, as skilled and expert gerontological nurses we disagree with his hypothesis that society cannot afford to care for its older citizens. His portrayal of old age and older people is offensive, fatalistic and reeks of negative, fatalistic attitudes. He defends older people's right to die but not their right to fair access to quality health services.
Setting limits to health care in an attempt to condone economic rationing is not a new departure. Older people with Alzheimer disease or, to quote Mr Myers, those "marooned within worthless, disobedient bodies", have founded this State in the expectation that it would care for them with dignity in advanced age. Their limitations provide Mr Myers with an unquestioning target group. Thankfully those who love and care for them can provide them with eyes to read The Irish Times, the cognition to understand its content and the voice to respond.
The use of ageist, economically based arguments and apocalyptic demography in an attempt to explain a failing health system ill serves society. It damages younger people, negates any concept of intergenerational solidarity and stigmatises and objectifies older people. A health service fit for older people is a service that a health care system could be proud of. - Yours, etc.,
MARY MOORE, RGN, RM, HPGN(Hon), DMMER, LINDA SMITH, RGN, BSc(Hons), Dip HSM, DEIRDRE MEANEY, RGN, MRIR, MRTM, BRIDGET O'BRIEN, RPHN, BSc, Dip HSM BER POWER, RGN, RM, BSc(Hons)Ger.Nursing, MA In Gerontology students, Department of Applied Psychology, University College, Cork.