Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat.

I thank Senator Conway for raising the issue. While dementia can bring many challenges both for the person with the condition and people caring for them, thankfully there is an increasing recognition that people can live and live well with dementia for a number of years as long as the right supports are in place. I am pleased to advise the Senator that the first ever comprehensive strategy that is specifically dedicated to dementia in Ireland is at an advanced stage of development. Our overarching policy is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and to support access to quality long-term residential care where appropriate. We will continue to develop health services around the country, wherever possible, to enhance quality provision and patient safety.

The HSE has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as St. Joseph's Hospital, Ennis. St. Joseph's is predominantly an older person's public residential unit that provides a range of care including long stay, short stay, respite, palliative and consultant-led rehabilitative care. I must stress that the facility caters for people with varying levels of dementia also.

Currently in Clare, consultant-led mental health beds for older persons are used at Cappahard Lodge and in the acute psychiatric unit. Without question, the service is well aware that a more appropriate environment is desirable. In this context, beds used by the older person's service at St. Joseph's were refurbished for the intended takeover by the mental health service. The refurbished beds are not operated by the mental health service at present but they are open and being used to very good effect. The HSE is exploring every opportunity to redirect existing mental health resources to move the refurbished beds under the direction of that service. A sub-committee was put in place this year and will shortly determine if such is possible. It must be stressed that it was never intended or indicated that new additional resources would be available for such beds, as they were intended to replace existing beds and therefore would be resource neutral.

The HSE will have a definitive position on the matter by the summer. This is one part of a multidisciplinary response by mental health services to dementia in Clare. In the wider context of developments of old age psychiatry, Clare Mental Health Services has a dedicated consultant-led team for psychiatry of old age which caters for a potential population of approximately 14,500 older people aged over 65 years. This is based in Cappahard Lodge, Ennis and consists of a non-consultant hospital doctor, nursing, psychology, social worker and occupational therapy care.

As part of development funding allocated to the mid-west, an additional five staff were allocated and are in place in psychiatry of later life in Clare. There are advanced plans to develop a day care centre on the St. Joseph's site specifically for people with dementia, and the HSE is in the final stages of negotiations on this matter.

The needs of our older people are, and will remain, a very high priority. The resources that are available will be applied to provide the best possible mix of supports and services in a way that most effectively matches the needs and preferences of older people, with a particular focus on enabling people to live as independently as possible within their own communities.