Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Reilly for bringing this motion before the House this evening. I commend the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, on her investigation into the rights to nursing home care in Ireland. She provides a voice for those people who find fault with the State's service and want answers, and she must be allowed to question Government policy in this and other areas. It is very worrying that the Department of Health and Children and the HSE did not fully co-operate with the investigation.

In 2004 there was a major scandal where elderly medical card holders had been illegally charged nursing home fees for many years. The new report shows that once again the elderly have fallen victim to the bad management and administration of the health service. This report, suitably titled Who Cares? An Investigation into the Right to Nursing Home Care in Ireland, examines the case of more than 1,000 older people who since 1985 could not access State nursing homes. These people were forced to go to private nursing homes to avail of care at significant cost to themselves and their families. It is appalling to read that so many people were denied the basic right to nursing home care in their communities in the State.

Making the decision to place a loved one in care is very difficult, and none of us wants to see elderly parents or relatives having to move to a nursing home, likely not to return home. We want our loved ones to be kept close to us, where we can care for them surrounded by neighbours and friends.

When things go wrong, difficulties can arise, with illnesses involving dementia or physical disabilities in particular becoming so serious that help is required. People seek the best place to ensure loved ones receive the best of care so that they do not become just a number in a nursing home. We want these people to feel comfortable and treated like real human beings rather than left sitting in a chair all day. We want our loved ones to be included in activities if possible and remain suitably alert and active for the time spent in these facilities. Above all, they should not feel institutionalised or left alone. We want to be able to visit them often and preserve a sense of family. We should not forget those elderly people who do not have extended family to visit them, and who are at risk of being isolated because they have been removed from their home and community, where neighbours and friends call in on a regular basis. Such people are especially vulnerable.

Currently there are approximately 23,000 people in long-stay residential care in Ireland, with a third of them in public homes. Public long-stay beds have dwindled in numbers, as indicated by other speakers, and are being replaced by private nursing homes. They have lost funding and many have had to close. The future of public nursing homes seems very bleak and I want to know what the Minister, Deputy Harney, is planning for their future.

Like many people who work in communities and who care for people in their own homes, I believe the way forward is independent living. We must keep elderly people at home in the area where they live or have grown up, where there is a link with families and friends. Many elderly people only need a little helping hand to live well enough in their homes into their 80s and 90s. Most elderly people want to be close to families and friends and be part of the community. They like to be able to keep independence and dignity above all. However, to properly support these people living at home we need the necessary services on the ground, such as public health nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and, above all, home help. These services have been cut throughout the country and it is having a devastating impact on community care. The Government needs to realise that investing in vital services in our communities at the level we want will save the State millions of euro.

See this speech in context