Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 2

Written Answers - Health Services.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

The services available for those suffering from dementia which includes those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, include a range of community services such as general practitioner services, public health nurses, access to community ward teams, care attendants available for long-term domiciliary support, home helps, and meals on wheels.

People with dementia have access to acute medical and psychiatric assessment services when the need arises as the treatment of medical and psychiatric problems improves the quality of life for both sufferers and carers.

Specialist medical services for older people — geriatric medicine services — include services for those with dementia who predominantly suffer from medical problems. These services provide essential medical assessment in a day hospital linked to a department of medicine for older people in an acute general hospital.

In addition to the dedicated services for dementia/Alzheimer's disease, it should be noted that people with these conditions who do not exhibit aggressive and/or disruptive behaviours are and will continue to be cared for in health board extended care hospitals and homes including day care units. Private nursing homes also provide a substantial bed resource for Alzheimer's patients who receive assistance towards the cost of their care via the subvention scheme operated under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990.

The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland was formed by dedicated relatives and friends of persons with Alzheimer's disease to create maximum awareness of the illness and to supply information and help including day care to affected families. In 1998, my Department allocated £180,000 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 need to develop specialist psychiatry of old age services, including services for people with Alzheimer's disease who require psychiatric treatment, has been identified as a priority. I am aware that services in this area will need to grow significantly over the next few years given the increasingly older population and the increased incidence of dementia among those in later old age. An additional £1 million has been allocated to health boards in 1998 to develop such a service and I intend to continue this programme of development next year.