Patricia Ryan
Question:2046. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the action he has taken on foot of the 2021 Ombudsman’s report entitled Wasted Lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44167/22]
View answerThursday, 8 September 2022
Questions (2046)
Written answers
The Ombudsman’s Report ‘Wasted Lives’ looks at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.
We know that nursing homes are an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
A range of services are being supported that can facilitate young people with serious disabilities live fuller, more independent lives. Measures to prevent young persons from entering nursing homes continue to be supported through a range of services including respite, home support and personal assistance services.
There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes. In this context, work has been ongoing with the HSE to address nursing home care of people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere.
In 2021 this Government provided for a Pilot Scheme as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) to enable 18 people, with an investment of €3m, under the age of 65 yrs to transition to their own home with support.
The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5 million in 2022 to support further transitions to more appropriate placements in the community.
The HSE is currently developing a National Survey of persons under 65 in nursing homes, initiated as part of the “Planning appropriately for Younger People in Nursing Homes” Service Reform Project. The aim of this two-part project is to gather key baseline data on this population, to allow the HSE advance planning and implementation of a coordinated programme, to support transitions back to the community to lead supported self-directed lives.