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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Questions (839)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

839. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans for the reopening of day care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4319/21]

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Written answers

Community services such as day care play an important role in enabling older people to continue living in their communities and maintain their social connections. These services contribute to positive ageing and better overall health. Generally speaking, the HSE Funds approximately 28,000 Day Care places annually and approximately 10,000 people utilise these services annually.

Day Care Centres across the country have predominantly been closed since March 2020 and as part of the focus and priority of the HSE to resume these services, a Guidance Document was prepared and circulated to HSE Operations Managers in July 2020 with the focus on opening up Day Care Centres in line within this framework.

Services will resume when it is safe to do so; when all infection prevention and control measures and the requirements of physical distancing can be maintained, to protect service users and staff and prevent any further spread of the virus. Some Day Centres may not be suitable for reopening due to the constraints of their physical environment and it will be necessary to continue or expand alternative service delivery models. A Focus Group consisting of key HSE and cross agency representation was established in November 2020 to ensure Day Care Services continue to be prioritised and to develop a plan that can assist service providers to have a suite of options available for the provision of Day Care/Supports throughout 2021. The Focus Group have met three times since its establishment with a view to developing a plan to support the current COVID-19 roadmap and provide guidance for services that can be provided under the various levels of the roadmap.

To ensure that day care clients are supported as effectively as possible the following supports are in place with services being prioritised for the most vulnerable clients and their carers:

- Additional Home Support Packages or new Home Support Packages for the most vulnerable clients.

- Meals on Wheels, Public Health Nursing, Chiropody, ongoing telephone contact.

- Day Care in the Home for patients with Dementia – this is currently being successfully implemented by the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland.

- Day Care in the Home – a model of Home Care in the Home is currently being finalised by the HSE National Dementia Office. This model is being reviewed by the Focus Group with a view to transferring it to regular Day Care Centres also. The model will continue to develop even when Day Care Centres re-open and will be based on needs assessment and what best benefits the client and their carers.

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