Disability Matters Committee discuss ‘Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes' Report

The meeting at 12:30 pm in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Department of Health, Dr Kathleen MacLellan, Assistant Secretary, Social Care, Susan Scally, Principal Officer
• Health Service Executive (HSE), Bernard O' Regan
• Office of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, Peter Tyndall, Ombudsman, and Sarah Cooney, Principal Officer

 In advance of the meeting Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “The report of the Ombudsman highlights the situation of people under 65 with a life-long disability or an acquired disability being placed in nursing homes for older people, who may have the will and preference to live at home or independently in the community.”

The Cathaoirleach went on to say:  It is with deep sadness that the Committee acknowledges the four individuals who were interviewed for this report, and to which the report is dedicated, who have died within the last two years, who had expressed a wish to live somewhere other than a nursing home but unfortunately, they did not have the opportunity to do so.

In this regard, the Committee are anxious to hear from the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE), to identify the total number of people under 65 who are currently in nursing homes, on urgent actions needed to assess these individuals will and preference, and allocate appropriate care supports while eliminating the practice of accommodating these young people in nursing homes."

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on the Oireachtas website.

The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

More information can be found on the dedicated Committee Webpage. Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.