Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
199 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider offering a subvention for those attending community or voluntary day care centres in order to provide funding for these essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10269/04]
View answerThe policy of my Department in relation to the care of older people is to maintain them in dignity and independence in their own home for as long as possible in accordance with their wishes. Numerous research studies have shown that the vast majority of older people have a preference to remain living in their own home for as long as possible rather than moving into long-stay residential care. Indeed, the preferred option for most families is to help care for their elderly relatives at home for as long as possible with the assistance of local health service staff.
Since my appointment as Minister of State I have been encouraging the Eastern Regional Health 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. Additional funding of €1.25 million was made available to the authority-health boards this year for the introduction of personal care packages. This is on top of the significant expenditure currently being incurred on home help and other services aimed at supporting people at home.
