Vol. 396 No. 6
201 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position on the availability of alarm-alert systems for the elderly and the handicapped to be provided by the Southern Health Board; and whether these are available for purchase for the elderly.
Health boards may provide an alarm-alert system to elderly persons at medical or social risk, e.g. living in an isolated area or living alone. The Southern Health Board have provided an alarm-alert system for a number of elderly in west Cork. The board have also contributed towards the cost of individual house alarm systems connected to a central control unit in a sheltered housing complex.
Applications for the provision of an emergency communications system in the Southern Health Board are dealt with under the housing aid scheme for the elderly. Home units are also available for private purchase from commercial outlets. The Southern Health Board provide advice on suitable systems.
The use of alarm systems in the care of the elderly may grow in the future as the technology develops and people gain confidence in its use. As announced in the budget and in my speech of 6 February, I will be making £5 million available to health boards shortly to strengthen home and community support for ill or disabled elderly people. The provision of home alarms is an option open to boards to maintain elderly people at home if they would otherwise require institutional care.
