asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a series of articles on the elderly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Articles on the Elderly.
41.
I read with great interest the series of articles on the elderly by Kathryn Holmquist, health corespondent of The Irish Times last week. The articles drew attention generally, in a very human way, to the problems faced by dependent elderly people and their carers, problems which were addressed in more detail in a report which I published last year entitled The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly.
I regret, however, that the articles were at times unbalanced and contained factual inaccuracies. The North Western Health Board has already drawn attention in The Irish Times to the unbalanced account of the services provided for the elderly lady from Riverstown, County Sligo, profiled in the first article. She is a regular attender at a day centre in Riverstown Health Centre and according to information provided by the board, has not had to pay for any medical supplies at any time.
A most misleading impression of the elderly's entitlements to health services was given in the final article in the profile of the elderly couple from Sligo. I would like to emphasise that the vast majority of the elderly have medical cards — 69 per cent of those aged 65 years and over and 85 per cent of those aged 80 years and over. The income limits administered by health boards are particularly generous to the elderly. In addition, 21 per cent of the elderly are insured with the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. The number of elderly without a medical card and without VHI cover is, therefore, extremely small. I understand that the couple referred to have appealed the decision of the North Western Health Board not to grant them a medical card and that the board is considering this appeal at present.
The message of the final article was that the elderly couple in question could not afford to go to hospital because they could not pay the hospital charges and in particular could not afford a hip operation. I have made it clear on a number of occasions that health boards have discretion to waive hospital charges in cases of hardship. With regard to hip operations in the North Western Health Board, there were only 37 people awaiting operations in Sligo at the end of 1988. I understand, however, that the elderly lady in question has not been referred for a hip operation.
I have great sympathy for the families of those caring for elderly relatives with dementia. It may appear to them that health board services are unable to help them with their problems. However, the impression given in the second and third articles that no services are available to people caring for those with dementia is inaccurate. On the days that these articles appeared, I met two of the persons referred to in the article on a visit to Baggot Street Hospital where they are resident receiving respite care. Respite facilities for persons with dementia have just been opened at St. John of God's, Stillorgan and others are planned. Two physicians in geriatric medicine with an interest in the care of the elderly mentally ill and with dementia have been appointed in Dublin with a remit to develop services for this particular group of patients. A new facility at St. James's Hospital, providing medical and psychiatric care for the elderly, opened last year. Baggot Street Hospital, referred to above, is now a community hospital providing a range of services to the elderly and their carers in its catchment area. Last week I opened a new department of medicine of the elderly at St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown which will greatly expand services available to the elderly and their carers. While much remains to be done, progress is being made.
Those who care for elderly relatives often have no income of their own. The third article drew attention to their condition but failed to mention that my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare, has recently amended legislation to allow the prescribed relatives allowance to be paid to the carer directly. This will implement the recommendations of The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly and represents a major step forward for carers.
Finally, I would like to correct a misrepresentation of what I said to the Dáil about funding to implement the recommendations of the The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly. I did not say that there was no money to implement the report. On that occasion, I outlined the progress which had already been made in implementing its recommendations. I said that other recommendations would be implemented as resources permit.
I regret that these misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies marred this series of articles on the very important topic of the care required by our elderly citizens.