A report on end-of-life care for older people in hospitals and nursing homes has found that there are very few with dedicated palliative care beds.
It also points to low levels of formal bereavement support before and after death, and a lack of privacy and internal accommodation for families and friends who wish to stay with their loved ones when death is imminent.
A survey conducted for the joint report from the National Council for Ageing and Older People and the Irish Hospice Foundation found just 108 designated palliative care beds out of over 20,000 beds in the health system.
Dr Ciaran Donegan, Chairman of the NCAOP, says the neglect of end of life care is indicative of ageist attitudes in society to older people.
Most healthcare staff have not received any formal qualifications in palliative care.
The report shows marked variations in pain management between facilities, often dictated by access to specialist support services.
Staffing shortages can mean staff are not always able to spend the time they would like with patients.
The report calls for improvements in the physical environment where people die and notes the lack of single rooms, especially in acute hospitals.
It says there must be greater consultation with older people to establish their needs and preferences with respect to end of life care.
The 200-page report was jointly commissioned by the NCAOP and the Irish Hospice Foundation.
Over 7,000 people who die in Ireland each year are over 65 years of age.
Most die in a hospital or nursing home facility.
