HeSSOP Health and Social Services for Older People Summary

The views of older people living in the community on the health and social services available to them had not previously been assessed on a large scale in Ireland. The National Council on Ageing and Older People, in partnership with the Western Health Board (WHB) and the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) which was formerly the Eastern Health Board, has now carried out such an assessment. It is anticipated that this will assist in planning for services for older people. A survey instrument was developed based on both literature review and focus group work. Groups of older people and key health and social service professionals in the two board areas were consulted to identify the most important concerns to be addressed in the study.