Gerry Kelly welcomes his guests and studio audience to examine the question of how the elderly are treated in the Northern Irish society. The studio panel is composed of Lily Wilson (Pensioner of the Year ’86), John O’Neill (Age Concern), Malachy Gray (ATGWU Retired Members Association), Donald Dunlop (Principal Social Worker) and Sam Young (RUC) and together with the studio audience represent a variety of opinions on the matter.
First, Kelly looks back at the topic of the previous programme, love marriage & divorce, and the viewers reactions to it. Kelly’s Eye segment presents a selection of some of these views. The rest of the programme delves into the issues around OAP and discuss NI’s considerably low state pensions (compared to its European counterparts), vulnerability of the elderly and a greater strain on the public services as a result of rapidly aging population but also encourage to seek solutions.