The Archdiocese of Dublin has published a booklet challenging the negative image of older people to mark its Jubilee Day for Senior Citizens.
The booklet, Gathering In, indicates that less than 5 per cent of over-65s live in residential care while 80 per cent of senior citizens living in the community are completely independent.
"If we were to believe the images we see, we would be forgiven for believing that they are all either lonely, vulnerable or half daft," according to Mr Paul Maher, project manager with the group Age and Opportunity and a contributor to the booklet.
Some 22 per cent of people of all ages said older people should decide whether to go into longterm care, with the majority saying a relative or healthcare professional should decide, the booklet also says.
Other figures published show only 25 per cent of older people live alone, 93 per cent are satisfied with their housing and 67 per cent rated their health as good or very good.
Negative impressions regarding older people led to discrimination, said Mr Maher. This was particularly the case in employment where compulsory retirement at 65 created the impression that older people after this age were no longer capable of work.
In education the emphasis was on young people, he said, while some people felt they did not have the same access to services as younger people.
Mr Maher said language also reinforced negative images of older people. Phrases about older people suggested they were a homogeneous group in society and suffered the same problems.