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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 1

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Seán Haughey

Question:

231 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of recent initiatives to free up beds in acute hospitals involving the payment of increased subvention rates for private nursing homes, care at home funding, a home first scheme and other measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28930/03]

The Deputy may be aware that additional funding of €5.5 million was provided by my Department to the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Southern Health Board in July 2003 to deal with the issue of older people in the acute hospital sector whose discharge had been delayed because of a lack of appropriate facilities to which they could be referred. Over 300 older people are expected to benefit from this initiative and the authority and the board have been in discussions with these people, their relatives and the hospitals concerning their discharge to nursing home or other care.

Since my appointment as Minister of State, I have been encouraging the authority and the health boards to introduce personal care packages for older people as an alternative to long-stay residential care. Personal care packages are specifically designed for the individual concerned and could possibly include the provision of a home help service, home subvention payments, arrangements for attendance at a day centre or day hospital and other services such as twilight nursing. Personal care packages allow older persons the option of remaining living in their own home rather than going into long-stay residential care.
The home first scheme referred to by the Deputy is being piloted in the Northern Area Health Board. This service is being targeted at older people to help support the transition from acute hospital care to living at home. High levels of support are provided to the individual for a particular period when such support is needed, using assistive technology.
A home care grant project is being piloted in the East Coast and Northern Area Health Board areas and the pilots are currently being evaluated by Trinity College Dublin on behalf of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The Deputy might also be interested to note that I formally launched the Slán Abhaile programme in the East Coast Area Health Board in early November and that this initiative is being undertaken by the board in partnership with the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook and St. Vincent's Hospital.
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