Vol. 395 No. 3
160 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation of the availability of alarm/alert systems for the elderly and the handicapped to be provided by the Eastern Health Board; whether these are available for purchase for the elderly; and if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 who has tried unsuccessfully to obtain same from the Eastern Health Board for the last four years.
The Eastern Health Board have purchased and installed a control system for receipt of alarm calls for assistance from elderly or handicapped persons in the community. Thirty people are connected to the system at present.
Home units are available for private purchase from commercial outlets. Members of the public wishing to purchase such units for connection to this system may apply, in the first instance, to the co-ordinator of services for the elderly, Eastern Health Board, St. Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park.
Officers of the Eastern Health Board have been in contact with the person mentioned by the Deputy who made an application last month and discussions are taking place with him with a view to meeting his needs.
There is no financial scheme available to assist in the purchase of home call units. However, individual hardship cases will be addressed by the local community care team with special responsibility for the elderly.
