The Government needs to ensure that health and social care provision throughout Northern Ireland meets the needs of older people and supports them in retaining independence and choice in their health care. We want to see the Health Sector engaging with older people across the board on health issues to ensure that service provision is continually reviewed to improve the quality of life in later years.

In particular Age Sector Platform will campaign for the following:

• Free Personal Care for older people in Northern Ireland
• Improved home help provision for older people
• The appointment of older people on the new trusts and health board following the Review of Public Administration (RPA) to ensure a strong older voice
• Recognition from the Health Department of the significant health benefits provided by older people’s groups and networks across Northern Ireland and provision of funding to enable these groups to continue their work
• The elimination of age discrimination in the provision of health and social care services for example in the treatment of depression and other mental health problems
• Improved podiatry services for older people. Good foot care is crucial in helping older people to stay active and independent but older people are experiencing difficulty in accessing good foot care and facing long waiting lists. Older people are the main users of foot care services and problems in accessing them can result in people being housebound, isolated and depressed
• Improved transport to health care and services, particularly in rural areas, where the cost of travel is a barrier in attending important doctor or hospital appointments. The health department needs to work in a joined up way with other departments to increase accessibility to their services
• Review of carer’s allowance provision for the over 60’s to ensure that older carer’s are recognised for the important work they are doing.
• An improved standard of care and treatment received by older people, through linkages with health professionals and organisations
• Older people’s views to be embedded in the development of Best Practice guides within the medical profession.