Older people's access to palliative and end life care, dementia care, or carers' supports should not depend on geographic location, the Older and Bolder alliance has said.
The alliance of organisations representing or working with older people is calling for the next Government to introduce a universal system of health and social care.
Age, the ability to afford health insurance, and where a person lives can affect access to health care, Older and Bolder director Patricia Conboy said.
"The problems in the current system such as inadequate capacity, overcrowding and long delays affect all Irish people but they do not affect us equally."
Access to health care services, particularly hospice or other end of life care varied across the State with 12 out of 26 counties having no inpatient palliative care, the alliance said.
While older people valued their medical cards but the services covered were being reduced and new costs such as prescription charges and routine dental expenses were being imposed, while recent increased in health insurance costs had priced older people not in receipt of medical cards out of the market.
The only solution was to "reshape" health care so that the costs were pooled across the generations and the needs of people of all ages were met.
"We need to dismantle our unequal two-tier system and replace it with a universal system of health and social care," Ms Conboy said.
Whether the universal system was funded through taxation or social insurance, it should be based on ability to pay, with a State subsidy for those unable to contribute. The system itself should include
appropriate provision for the long-term care of older people with social care needs who want to continue living in their own homes and communities.
The alliance represents: Active Retirement Ireland, Age and Opportunity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers Association, Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, the Older Women's Network and the Senior Help Line.
