The Minister was speaking after meeting yesterday with representatives of two of the main voluntary sector organisations working with older people.
Rosemary Kelly, chair of Help the Aged NI, and Dame Joan Harbison, chair of Age Concern, met with the Minister to consider a range of issues affecting the health and well being of Northern Ireland’s elderly population.
The Minister said: “My Department’s investment priorities are aimed at developing robust alternatives to institutional care that will be able to support a greater number of older people, and do so in a way that is more reflective of their real care needs. This is the way to maintain their dignity and respect.”
He added: “I am very conscious of the valuable work carried out by voluntary organisations and the important contribution this can make to the overall achievement of the Department’s objectives.”
The Minister also welcomed the opportunity to speak about work being taken forward by the Department and Health and Social Care on important issues, such as investment in schemes designed to prevent deterioration in the health of older people and support them to live independently at home for as long as possible.
Notes to Editors:
- Help the Aged is an international charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. The charity’s mission is to secure and uphold the rights of disadvantaged older people in the UK and around the world.
- Age Concern is a major national voluntary organisation concerned with the welfare of older people. The organisation functions both as a campaigning body with and on behalf of older people, and as a provider of advice, information and practical services for older people and their carers.
- Both organisations meet regularly with the Department as part of a wider group of voluntary organisations representing the age sector
- Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number on 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
