I propose to take Questions Nos. 1934, 2003 and 2104 together.
In Budget 2021, the Government allocated over €2.2 billion for specialist disability services, including €100m in additional funding to enhance services and supports, reflecting the Government’s commitment in this area. €3m of this funding was allocated to support a new pilot project which aims to assist 18 people aged under 65 with a disability to move from nursing homes in 2021.
This is the first year that funding for a project of this nature has been secured. It is envisaged that this project will build on learning from the Time to Move On policy, the Personalised Budgets Pilot and the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy.
There are an estimated 1,300 people aged under 65 living in nursing homes for older people. Data is available on those under 65 living in nursing homes who are receiving a Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) subvention, but these data do not distinguish between those who are inappropriately placed and those for whom it is a reasonable and appropriate choice.
Currently, each Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) is working with those whom they have identified to participate in the pilot project to develop person-centred care and transition plans to facilitate the moves to alternative sustainable living solutions within the community and it is expected that transitions will commence by the end of Quarter 3.
In tandem with this, the HSE is working on a service reform project which aims to:
- Gather baseline information on the population living in nursing homes.
- Carry out full assessments of care within the current placement.
This project will map out the care and support needs of those living under 65 living in nursing homes and will demonstrate the scale of the work involved and the potential resources required to meet the Programme for Government Commitment.
The learning from the project will inform the approach to how the HSE and other stakeholders need to plan for and support people under 65 in nursing homes to transition to alternative housing options in the community with adequate supports, where this is appropriate for the individual, including the level of resources required to facilitate such transitions.