Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 1

Written Answers. - Alzheimers Disease.

Paul Bradford

Question:

134 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to add Alzheimers disease to the list of long term illnesses thus ensuring the provision of essential drugs and equipment free of charge to sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The long term illness scheme is only one of a number of schemes in operation which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines for persons with ongoing medical conditions.

Persons with conditions such as Alzheimers who in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board are unable to meet their medical expenses, without undue hardship, may be granted a medical card which will entitle them to the supply of all drugs and medicines without charge.

Any other person with an ongoing medical condition, such as Alzheimers, which imposes a requirement for continuous medication, can benefit under the terms of the drug cost subsidisation scheme. This scheme limits the actual expenditure of authorised beneficiaries, on prescribed medicines, to £32 per month. This scheme is being availed of by over 20,000 persons and the take-up in the scheme emphasises the benefits of the scheme for persons with a long term drug requirement.

The long term illness scheme covers 15 specified illnesses and there are no plans at present to extend the scheme to include any further conditions.

I am satisfied that these schemes, together with the drugs refund scheme, ensure that the treatment needs of all sectors of the population and of Alzheimer's sufferers in particular are being met.

Paul Bradford

Question:

135 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to provide further support and assistance to carers of Alzheimers sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Paul Bradford

Question:

136 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health the current estimate of Alzheimers disease sufferers in this country.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.

The recognition of the problem posed by Alzheimers disease/dementia is a relatively recent development. There is no hard information on the numbers of persons affected by dementia in the country. The report, The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly estimated that by the end of this decade there would be 20,000 persons suffering from the disease, of which a much smaller number would be severely affected.

As Minister for Health I recognise that carers of Alzheimer's sufferers provide an invaluable service to the community.The Years Ahead is the first official report to recommend comprehensive measures to assist their carers. The recommendations of The Years Ahead have been accepted by Government as policy towards the elderly. Considerable progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of this report. An additional £9 million has been made available in the past three years to expand services for the elderly, particularly in the area of community care. One of the features was an extension of the respite programme which would have been of considerable advantage to carers. The development of the community care scheme in all health board areas is providing intensive support to dependent elderly people at home and their carers. The expansion of the home nursing and home help services to provide night and weekend cover in most health boards is of great benefit to the elderly and their carers. Finally, the provision of more day care places and respite care beds offers a break from caring during the day or for short and regular periods of time.

I am also very supportive of the effort by the Soroptimists International to highlight the role of carers by publishing a Carer's Charter. My Department has written to each chief executive officer of the health boards enclosing a copy of the Carer's Charter prepared by the Soroptimists last year. Each health board has been asked to consider the charter in the preparation of plans to develop community services for the elderly and also the mentally and physically handicapped and the mentally ill. I will be examining these plans to ensure that the needs of carers are identified and services designed to take account of them.