Ivor Callely
Question:94 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the level of service and support for Alzheimer's sufferers and their families; the additional services to be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18128/95]
Written Answers. - Alzheimer's Sufferers Support Services.
, Limerick East): The report The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly, stressed the need to develop a range of services for people with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, and their families. The report was adopted as official Government policy towards the elderly. Between 1990 and 1994 an additional £21 million was made available to the health services to implement key recommendations of the report, including the strengthening of home and community support for people with dementia and their families. The investment by boards in additional community nursing, day care, respite services and nursing home places has increased the support available to sufferers of Alzheimer's disease and their carers. The care of those with dementia is clearly emerging as a priority for many boards, a development which I fully support. This year, an additional £7.5 million is being made available to improve further health and welfare services for the elderly and their carers, including the development of specialist assessment and community support services for people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
This year I have decided to allocate £80,000 in core funding to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in recognition of the contribution the society is making to the development of services for people with dementia throughout the country.
The Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 which commenced on 1 September, 1993 widens the options available to those caring for dependent relatives with dementia. Under the Act, health boards may pay a subvention towards the cost of care in a nursing home of a person who needs that care and who does not have the resources to pay the cost. Almost £15 million has been made available this year to fund subventions under the Act.
As Minister for Health, I am very conscious of the contribution made by carers to the maintenance of dependent people in their own homes, and I will continue to encourage health boards to develop and extend support services for these informal carers, whether by services in the home, by respite care in a hospital or nursing home or long-term residential care.