Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
889. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will designate special funding to the healthy homes co-ordinators in local authorities to assist them in their role to help older and vulnerable people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39541/23]
View answerHealthy Age Friendly Homes is the support coordination service which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults and to enable them to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. An innovative collaboration between Health, Housing, and Local Government, through the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service, this programme has been operational in nine pilot sites since July 2021. This programme establishes the unique role of the local coordinator, situated in local government and who acts as a single point of contact for older people. By operating within the public service straddling health and housing, they act as a catalyst to signpost services on behalf of older people. On referral into the programme, a local coordinator will carry out a home visit to conduct a holistic assessment of needs in the areas of health, housing adaptations, home energy assessments and retrofits, community and social supports, and assistive technologies.
Following a successful pilot funded by Sláintecare, the programme has received funding of €5.2m in Budget 2023 to roll out nationally. This funding provides for 44 local coordinators and 6 regional managers to provide supports and advice to older people nationwide, that is, a local coordinator role for each of the 31 Local Authorities and two coordinators in certain areas based on identified need. These roles are funded by the HSE, and employed by Meath County Council as host of the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service. Local coordinator will also be provided with a small programme budget in each local authority to facilitate local engagement and promotional activities. The programme will be coordinated across six regions, aligned to the six new HSE Health Regions.
Work to progress the recruitment of the 44 local coordinators and 6 regional managers through the Public Appointments Service has progressed over the summer period with the national programme launch expected in the Autumn as coordinators come on stream.
