Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the west Cork region and nationwide a severe shortage of carers is leaving many elderly people with no option but to go into long-term residential care in nursing homes. This is not their choice or the choice of their families. I am aware of many elderly constituents who are in hospital awaiting discharge but because no home care package has been put in place and due to a shortage of home care staff, they are forced to stay in hospital. This in turn puts a strain on the hospital system, creating a shortage of urgently needed medical beds. As the weeks go by, the recruitment process is getting more and more challenging. Part of the problem lies in the fact that home care assistants are required to have a FETAC level 5 qualification or equivalent. In my constituency of Cork South-West there are no opportunities to acquire this qualification in an evening class.

One idea that should be explored is earn as you learn, which describes a concept combining study with practical experience, thus enabling individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required to pursue their chosen occupation. Similar to an apprenticeship, this concept gives the participant the opportunity to gain practical skills in the workplace while earning a wage but also to study towards completing a FETAC level 5 qualification. I envisage that an apprentice would accompany and shadow a qualified home help on her daily visits to patients, while at the same time freeing up another qualified home help and in this case increasing the home care workforce.

On many occasions when we inquire about a home help for someone, we are told there are no home helps or hours available and then we are told by the home helps themselves that they can do extra hours but will not be given them. Why is this going on within the HSE? Respect would go a long way with home helps because the reason we can get no home helps in many cases is the roster. They need time off but instead they have an hour here and there, day in and day out. In many cases, they do not get a couple of days off. This will not attract young people who would love to do home help but would like to go out a night or two when they are off.

All is not well with home helps but a great deal could be done if everyone was willing to work together towards a solution. This crisis is a national emergency for all of us.

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