Older people have been treated in an ageist way throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
That's according to Bernadette Phillips of the Older People's Council.
Speaking on Deise Today with Maria McCann, the former General Election candidate said that Covid has had a huge negative impact on the elderly.
She says people need to focus on individuals within age groups and not just the collective.
"Certainly right through the pandemic, older people have been treated in an ageist way. People acknowledge it, but it had huge impact - negative impact on many many people. I was calling that out from the very beginning. I had a letter in the Irish Times in May 2020. It said don't talk about us, talk to us."
Over-70s being asked to cocoon during the pandemic was a 'scandalous thing'. Bernadette said that one size does not fit all.
"The over-70s cocooning was a scandalous thing. From the point of view - that one size doesn't fit all. Just because we're all the one age, doesn't mean that we don't have different fitness levels and abilities. If you think about older people and their contributions to their communities and society - they were very active in their communities, volunteering and making their mark then suddenly one day they're told - no, stay at home."
Bernadette says the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge negative impact on older people as it has effected their confidence, sense of self and made many feel invisible. Older people now feel a lack of value in society.
"Their confidence, their own sense of self, how invisible they felt - the lack of value that they felt - that's real in terms of people's lives. I'm not just making this up, these are real stories and situations that I have encountered."
