Ms Naomi Feely:

I will speak about what we found out when we consulted with our members. It is evident from this interaction that the notion that older people have been unaffected by austerity is not borne out in reality. The opposite is the case for many older people. While the core rate of the pension has remained unchanged since January 2009, price increases, the decimation of the household benefits package and other secondary income supports, the introduction of charges such as the property tax and prescription charge, and the forthcoming water charges have caused many older people to struggle to make ends meet. Cuts to medical cards and health service budgets have had a disproportionate effect on the sickest and frailest older people. More than 18,000 older people have lost their medical cards in the past 12 months. The HSE aims to provide 1.7 million fewer hours of home help this year than in 2010, despite our ageing population and the 4% per annum increase in the population aged over 65.

The choices older people are making in order to keep their heads above water are unacceptable and paint a stark picture of what it is like to grow old in Ireland. During our consultation, members told us they were reducing their home heating. One member said, "Home heating has had to be reduced to save fuel so my wife who is ill now stays in her bed most of the time". A second member said, "I have had to cut back big time on grocery shopping. We need to adapt the house now to our needs as we are both over 70 years of age ... that has to wait". Another member said, "We only turn on lighting in some rooms and do everything we can to save on heat. I put on extra clothing and stay in bed late and go to bed early. We rarely use the phone". While supports such as the housing adaptation grant provide funding to help older people remain in their homes for longer, changes in the criteria earlier this year have meant for many dipping into their savings in order to live more comfortably. One member told us, "I had to use money put aside for my funeral, to pay for replacement of bathroom fittings".

Those living alone in particular struggle to heat homes that were once occupied by more than one person and were supported by more than one State pension.

The contribution of the living-alone allowance to tackle the disparity in expenditure is grossly inadequate. One member explained: "Since my husband died it is much harder to live on your own and more expensive".
Even those who have been able to save or put money aside have been penalised. For instance, consideration of savings in the criteria for medical cards has meant that many older people have lost access to vital services and can only now access a GP-visit card. One member told us:

I have lost my medical card. I now have a doctor only card. My pension has not changed but I have some interest on money I saved for a rainy day and this brought my income over the rate. I realise now I was foolish to save any money.