Health Committee to discuss home care regulation and resourcing

The meeting will focus on rights, resources and regulation of homecare:

Session A: 9 a.m. [Officials from the Department of Health; and Representatives from the Health Research Board]

Session B: 10.30 a.m. [Representatives from Age Action Ireland; Dr. Eamonn O’Shea, Health Economist; and Representatives from the National Community Care Network (NCCN)]

Committee Chair, Dr Michael Harty TD, said, “With a large aging population in Ireland, our meeting tomorrow is a significant one.  The extension of the Fair Deal scheme to home care is a necessary development and committee members will have questions in terms of how extending the Fair Deal scheme will work for home care. Home care services need to be regulated in order to protect vulnerable people being cared for in their own homes, particularly because the vast majority of older people prefer to be cared for in the comfort of their own homes and communities. Our engagement with witnesses tomorrow will allow the committee to discuss the various options available for home care regulation and resourcing while looking at viable alternatives to long-term residential care.”

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.