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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

139 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of long stay beds required for older persons over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24840/01]

It is difficult to give a precise figure for the number of long stay beds that will be required over the next decade. It is possible, however, to outline some of the considerations and issues to be taken into account when formulating policy for the development of long stay policy over that period.

There will be continued growth in the population aged 65 years and over, and the expectation is that this cohort will have increased by 25% between 1996 and 2011. The 1998 report "The Years Ahead. . . A Policy for the Elderly", outlined a number of key principles, one of which was "to provide high quality hospital and residential care for older people when they can no longer be maintained in dignity and independence at home". "A Review of the Years Ahead", published in 1997, by the National Council on Ageing and Older People, concluded that, although some progress had been made, significant gaps remained, particularly relating to the lack of support for older people in their homes and in their communities.

Since 1997, this Government has allocated significant funding to the development of services for older people, with particular emphasis being placed on the development of a comprehensive range of community supports, in order to maintain older people independent in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. It is intended to prioritise this development in the coming years and the success, or otherwise, of this approach will have a direct impact on the demand for extended care. Another factor which must be taken into account is the level of dependency occurring in people as they get older. International evidence would suggest that, as life expectancy increases, the age at which people suffer bad health also increases, with consequent implications to the health services.

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