asked the Minister for Health the total number of socially dependent persons of age 65 and over living in their homes in the Dublin Health Authority area; the total number to whom the services (1) meals on wheels, (2) domestic help and (3) nursing visits at least once a week by the Dublin Health Authority geriatric service were provided in 1950, 1960, 1965 and 1969.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Care of Aged.
17.
There are no definitive figures available of the number of socially dependent persons of age of 65 years and over living in their own homes in the Dublin Health Authority area. However, I am informed by the health authority that on 31st January, 1970, a total of 2,258 persons aged 70 years and over were in receipt of home assistance as a supplement to their pensions.
Not all the other information sought by the Deputy is available. I understand that meals on wheels and home help services were first subsidised by Dublin Health Authority late in 1966. In that year they subsidised an average of 2,500 meals a month, and assisted in the employment of 21 home helps. In 1969 they were subsidising about 16,000 meals per month to about 1,100 people and assisting about 130 old people or couples to employ home helps. The number of community organisations assisted in providing meals on wheels and other social services for old people is 45.
The average weekly number of visits by health authority nurses to old people is 1,550.