Vol. 435 No. 9
86 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the home help scheme as operated by the health boards to family members who have to travel a considerable distance to care for their relatives who otherwise would be accommodated in geriatric hospitals and homes at a far greater cost to the State.
236 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health if there are circumstances in which a home help service should be made more flexible to enable relatives to be paid under the home help scheme to care for their elderly or sick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under section 61 of the Health Act, 1970, health boards may make arrangements to assist in the maintenance at home of persons who, but for the provision of such a service would required to be maintained otherwise than at home. This section empowers health boards to provide support services such as home help, laundry and meals.
Because of an understandable reluctance to intervene in family relationships and because of the financial implications it has never been the practice of health boards to pay, directly or indirectly, relatives of elderly persons to act as their home helps. A relative living a considerable distance from a elderly person who needs home help, should contact his or her local health board to discuss how the board can assist with the support of the dependent person.
