The Government has invested significantly in this area over the past three years to improve conditions in units and provide more facilities but, by the Department of Health and Children's own admission, there are still people who are not being catered for. According to the Department's waiting lists, 1,711 are seeking residential places while 800 need day care and 1,000 respite care. Some of those who care for patients at home are well into their seventies and eighties and their great concern is what will happen to the patients, who are aged between 40 and 60 years in some cases.