COMMISSIONER for Older People for Northern Ireland, Eddie Lynch met with the older people of Enniskillen on Wednesday at the Killyhevlin Hotel. The aim of the visit was to hear the generations views on his proposed priorities for his term of office.
Over the next four years, Mr Lynch has identified a number of priorities under the headings Respect, Value and Protect. These three headings are working towards a society which respects, value and protects the older people in the community.
Enniskillen’s Patricia Donald, from Age Sector Platform agrees with a number of the priorities that have been identified by Mr Lynch particularly the encouragement of older people getting online and having internet access.
“I think that social inclusion definitely needs to be addressed. Older people need to have access to broadband and easily accessible computer classes. We also need money to train people to use computers so that they can get involved and online. In this day and age, if you cannot get online, you will be left behind.”
With the older generation, comes the prospect of care and increasing health bills for the older generations. Mr Lynch has also identified healthcare for older people as a priority for the next four years.
“It is important that we keep ourselves healthy and well. We also need to look at the cost of nursing care. It is an issue that is causing great anxiety among the elderly generation and we do not need the worry. The younger generations also cannot afford to pay for the care that we need. I also think the scale of financial abuse against older people needs to be addressed and also we need to have people who will take action when it can be identified,” added Patricia Donald.
Other priorities that Eddie Lynch has identified include services and support for Dementia, age discrimination and the Active Ageing Strategy. The event in Enniskillen is one of a number of meetings being held throughout the North.
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