Ms Gráinne Loughran:

We are waiting for the results of our pre-budget survey of this year. Last year, we conducted a survey on the impact of the cost of living on the older people we work with. Much of the feedback indicated that being unable to afford a social outing, for example, was having a significant impact. Being unable to afford to keep the heating on or pay bills, for example, increases stress and anxiety levels. This is all having an impact on many of the older people we work with.