New guide giving information on older people’s rights published

A new guide offering practical information on the rights of older people in Ireland when it comes to retirement, access to health and community care, pensions and elder abuse has been published.

The guide from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) was launched by the newly-appointed Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee on Tuesday.

It was "especially written for people who are too often characterised as recipients of care rather than recognised as individual rights holders," said the ICCL's executive director Mark Kelly.

He added that it contained “resources to empower older people to vindicate their rights” in order to “help to redress the balance.”

It was written by long-term advocate of older people's rights Patricia Conboy and provides up to date practical information on issues, including pension rights and retirement, the right to health and community care and information on private health insurance.

There is also sections on consumer rights, how to access information and data protection as well as a section dedicated to the problem of elder abuse.

It forms part of the ICCL’s Know Your Rights public information project which has been designed to inform people in clear and accessible language about their rights under various areas of the law in Ireland .

It is the seventh booklet in the series and, as with the other books, its aim is to present information in everyday language approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency.