Vol. 573 No. 3
450 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is planned to expand the home care grant pilot project and Slán Abhaile scheme currently being run by the Eastern Regional Health Authority to other health authorities throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25091/03]
Since my appointment as Minister of State I have encouraged all service providers to develop all services in order to provide personal care packages. The home care grant project referred to by the Deputy is currently being piloted in the East Coast and Northern Area Health Boards and is being evaluated by Trinity College Dublin on behalf of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The Deputy might be interested to note that I am formally launching Slán Abhaile in the East Coast Area Health Board today. This service is the board's version of the home first scheme, which is already in operation in the Northern Area Health Board. This service is being targeted at older people to help support them in making the transition from acute hospital care to living at home and provide high level support for a particular period when such support is critical.
These pilot projects have been developed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority in consultation with the area health boards to deal with the particular circumstances which prevail in the authority's area where the discharge of older people from the acute hospital sector has been delayed. The pilot projects are designed to support older people in the transition from acute hospital care back to independent living.
