Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 7

Written Answers. - Accommodation for Elderly.

Dan Wallace

Ceist:

42 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to increase the amount of long-stay accommodation for the elderly in general hospitals and nursing homes: and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7009/95]

Limerick East): Traditionally the needs of the dependent elderly persons were met by admitting them to long-stay accommodation. This practice is now generally held to be unsatisfactory. In line with the recommendations of The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly, greater emphasis is currently being placed on the development of community based services so elderly persons can continue to live in their homes, with assistance, if necessary, for as long as possible.

In recent years an additional £9 million was made available to the health boards to develop services for the elderly and their carers. This extra funding has enabled the health boards to expand home nursing services, to provide day care centres and day hospitals, to provide more departments of medicine of the elderly in general hospitals, to increase the number of physiotherapists and speech therapists in the community and to develop services for the elderly mentally infirm. I am making available a further £7.5 million this year to improve health services for the elderly, in recognition of the priority I attach to these services.
Barr
Roinn