A key principle underpinning Government policy is to support older people to live in their own home as long as possible. There will, however, always be people whose needs are best met in a residential care setting or supported housing model. There are 10 supported care homes in Community Healthcare Organisation Area 5 providing accommodation and support services to older people with low to medium dependency levels. The residents care needs are too great for them to remain safely at home, but they do not yet require 24-hour nursing home care.
I recently wrote to the 10 supported care homes regarding support related to funding pressures.
As I set out in my correspondence, a €100m once-off fund has been allocated to support community-based health and social care service providers for 2022 cost increases. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs.
These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community. It is expected that supported care homes will be within scope of this measure.
The details of the plan are being finalised. It is proposed that the inflation support fund will be administered by the HSE utilising the mechanisms in place for funding eligible organisations in receipt of service level arrangements and grant aid agreements. These arrangements are already in place with organisations that provide key health and social care services for people in Ireland. It is proposed that payments will be made to eligible organisations in the final quarter of 2022 to meet the pressures of this coming winter. Many eligible organisations may be already operating within a context of increased inflationary pressures, and the payments will be made as soon as finalised.
As you will be aware I completely support the model of community care homes in the South East that supports older people to live well within their own communities, and I will continue to advocate on their behalf.
