Homeowners and downsizing – not all that it is cracked up to be

Sir, – Further to “More than two-thirds of people are living in homes too big for their needs, ESRI research finds” (Business, March 27th) and recent correspondence (Letters, March 28th), it seems that we older folk must move out of our hard-earned homes and make way for the younger generation. So where are we to go on this downsizing project? Oh yes, a nice one-bedroom apartment. No garden to tend and enjoy. We can of course listen to our neighbours’ discussions and their televisions. It will be wonderful to learn a new language that way. The quality of construction of apartments will ensure that we miss out on nothing. And think of all that exercise lugging our shopping up those flights of stairs. I must not forget my golf bag and battery.

What a wonderful image to look forward to in our old age. What about our visiting grandchildren? Well, we can just visit them.

Any more wonderful ideas for the older generation? – Yours, etc,

DENIS O’DONOGHUE,