asked the Minister for Health if he has received a report on the position of geriatrics in this country; what recommendations it contains; if the report agrees with retirements at 65 years; what criticisms the report makes of the present system; and when he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Geriatrics.
43.
Mr. O'Malley
I have received from the National Organisation for Rehabilitation a report prepared by a Committee of the Organisation on a number of problems associated with the care of the aged in this country.
The report deals mainly with the need to develop a wide range of community services to enable the aged to live as long as possible in their own homes or in the homes of their relatives and friends.
Broadly, the services recommended include specialist medical care; nursing care; care by para-medical personnel like occupational therapists, chiropodists, social workers etc.; home helps; meals on wheels and advice as to nutrition; laundry; social clubs; special housing; welfare type homes; boarding-out; community involvement; publicity; research and retirement counselling. With regard to retirement, the report states that a rigid observance of 65 years as the age for retirement from many occupations could tend to accelerate the geriatric problem in a number of cases; if recommends that despite the obvious difficulties in treating the problem on an individual basis, it might well prove desirable to do so where feasible.
The report is being examined in my Department and a copy has been made available to the inter-departmental committee which I have established to consider matters in this field generally.