Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Services for Dementia Sufferers.

Ivor Callely

Question:

29 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the services, if any, available to patients with Alzheimer's; if his attention has been drawn to recurring difficulties experienced by Alzheimer's patients and their families; the submissions, if any, he has received for improvements to such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/97]

Ivor Callely

Question:

106 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the services, if any, available to elderly patients with dementia; if his attention has been drawn to the recurring problems experienced in obtaining long stay accommodation for such patients; the additional services, if any, that will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7913/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 106 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, 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. Additional funding has been 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 health 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. Considerable progress is being made in improving 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.

Prior to the publication of "The Years Ahead", many elderly people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease were inappropriately placed in psychiatric hospitals. "The Years Ahead" emphasised the need for separate small units for the disturbed elderly with dementia. Examples of the specialist facilities provided to date are the establishment of units for the elderly mentally infirm at Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, St. Camillus' Hospital, Limerick and St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown. Facilities for the elderly mentally infirm are provided by the Eastern Health Board in Tivoli Road, Dún Laoghaire and Clonskeagh Hospital. The board also provides services in its new long-stay unit for the elderly on the Navan Road and it is board policy that all new long-stay units for the elderly will provide such services.

The Department has regular contact with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in relation to matters of concern to the society, including the development of services. The society receives £80,000 annually from my Department in recognition of the contribution it is making to the support of people with dementia and their families. In addition, funds have been provided in 1997 to enable a dementia service information and development centre to be established at St. James's Hospital in association with the Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing at Trinity College, Dublin.

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. Just under £17 million has been made available this year to fund subventions under the Act.

It will be clear, therefore, that health boards are giving priority to the development of services for persons with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, as well as support services for their families.