I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question.
Published in May 2021, the Ombudsman's Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes looked at the appropriateness of the placement of people under the age of 65 in nursing homes.
It is recognised that nursing homes can, at times, be appropriate care options where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.
Nonetheless, for many people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate setting, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of inappropriately accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes and to facilitate where appropriate, people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere.
In 2023, Specialist Community-Based Disability Services received funding of c. €2.5 billion to deliver a range of services in the areas of Residential and Respite Services, Day Services, PA and Home Support Services, and Therapeutic Supports.
The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2021 provided for an investment of €3m in 2021 to enable 18 people under the age of 65 years to move from nursing homes to move to more appropriate homes in the community. In 2021, 14 had moved into the community.
Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5m (part-year funding) to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes, thus commencing the move of a further cohort of individuals. In 2022, 22 transitions took place.
The HSE advises that as of June 2023, 17 individuals have moved from nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community. The transitions to the community have been to own home (adapted), family home (adapted), new council house (adapted) and specialised residential services.
In addition to supporting individuals who wish to transition into the community, the HSE is also funding enhanced quality of life supports for individuals who through either will and preference and/or assessment of need will be continuing their placement in the Nursing Home. For these individuals, the aim of these supports is, to improve the daily life of these younger people, while they are still in a nursing home or to help them prepare for a future transition. By end June 2023, 37 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports, while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.
The availability of appropriate housing, challenges in recruiting care staff and clinical staff and have been cited as barriers to successful transitions. The HSE is identifying different actions to mitigate against these barriers.
The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 sets out the Government’s vision for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people. The overarching vision of the Strategy is to facilitate people with disabilities to live independently and to have their housing needs met in the community. Officials in my Department provided input into the Strategy.
