Michael Creed
Ceist:63 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he proposes nationally to improve health services for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18225/99]
Written Answers. - Health Services.
The need to develop better health and other support services for older people is regarded as a priority by this Government and is reflected in the significant increase in the allocation for this service. An additional £25 million has been allocated in 1999 which is being used to support older people in their homes, as well as improving hospital based services for older people.
The National Council on Ageing and Older People, which is the statutory advisory body on services for older people, has identified support for older people in the home, as well as support for carers, as fundamental to improving the quality of life for older people. This is also the consensus view of the various organisations which represent the interests of older people. Accordingly, a number of initiatives have been taken which will enable health boards to provide greater support for older people in their homes.
Additional resources amounting to £4.5 million were provided this year for the home help service. This allocation is being used to extend the coverage of the service by providing more hours, as well as improving rates of payment for home helps.
A sum of £1 million has been allocated this year to the health boards specifically for the support of carers through the employment of liaison officers and the provision of respite breaks. Additional funding has been allocated for the recruitment of more paramedical and nursing staff to be assigned to home care of older people which, in turn, will also assist carers.
While support of older people in the home is a very important part of Government policy in relation to the care of older people, there will continue to be a need for residential nursing care, when it is no longer possible for older people to be looked after at home. The budget allocation for older people will enable a number of new community nursing units to be opened this year, as well as the increased use of private nursing home places. A sum of almost £10 million has been provided to meet increased demands on the private nursing home subvention scheme and the contracting of additional beds in private nursing homes. These initiatives, together with the improvement of community support services, will help to alleviate the pressure on acute beds in the major general hospitals by providing more appropriate convalescent, extended care and home support services. The package of measures also includes the further improvement of the specialist psychiatry of older age services, specialist assessment units for older people in general hospitals and improved staffing in extended care and day care facilities for older people, as well as support for voluntary groups which represent the interests of older people.
The importance of encouraging older people to seek medical intervention at the earliest possible stage has been recognised by the significant increase in the income guidelines for entitlement to medical cards for persons aged 70 and over.
It is my intention to further develop services for older people along these lines as resources permit.