Batt O'Keeffe
Question:75 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the level of support available to families of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease throughout the health board areas. [11997/97]
Written Answers - Alzheimer's Disease.
Limerick East): As the Deputy may 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 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.
I might add that my Department allocates £80,000 annually 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. I am providing an additional allocation of £50,000 to the society for 1997. I have also allocated the sum of £100,000 in lottery funding this year to The Carers' Association who provide support services for carers, including those caring for dementia sufferers.
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 over £17 million has been made available this year to fund subventions under the Act.
I would also like to mention the conference entitled Alzheimer's disease and Related Disorders — Practical Management and Prevention, held in Limerick on 20-22 November last. This conference was organised by my Department, in association with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and with the support of the European Commission.The purpose of the conference was to exchange information and to evaluate the success of practical advice and management and prevention strategies currently employed in relation to Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The conference was extremely successful and the various papers presented were thought provoking. It is intended to publish the conference proceedings this year and I am sure that the final document will provide a useful database for policy makers, health professionals, hospital managers and carers working with sufferers of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.