Vol. 446 No. 1
121 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons suffering from Alzheimer's Disease are denied long stay residential care by the health boards if they are aged under 65; if he is giving any consideration to the provision of facilities for such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1660/94]
All eight health boards have indicated that they have residential, day or respite care available for Alzheimer sufferers. The boards do not differentiate on age grounds in the services they offer to persons suffering from dementia.
The Deputy will also be pleased to learn that in 1994 funding is being made available to provide specialist services for those with dementia in South-East Dublin, Limerick and Cork. It is planned that these services will be in operation before the end of the year or early next year.
The Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, which commenced on 1 September 1993, widens the options available to those caring for dependent relatives with dementia. Under the Act, health boards may pay a subvention towards the cost of care in a nursing home of a person who needs that care and who does not have the resources to pay the cost.
