Can i work with elderly patients if i have shingles?

Depends . . .: Try to avoid working w/anyone while you still have liquid blisters. Of course, rules in ireland might be different those in states. In general, wait until all blisters are dried up. Otherwise, it's possible to give chickenpox to those elderly patients who've never had chickenpox. Since you can't tell who had chickenpox & who hasn't, it's best to wait until your blisters are resolved.

Uncertain: I see you are from Ireland. Are you working in a hospital or nursing home? In the United States there are usually laws that specify whether / when you can work with patients in certain settings. Coming in contact with a Shingles rash/blister can infect someone who doesn’t have immunity to chickenpox. That person could develop chicken pox (not shingles).