Seanad debates

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

10:30 am

Photo of Paul BradfordPaul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader for a debate on care of the elderly. I sound like a long-playing record on this because I have made this request on many occasions down the years. I do so today, however, in the context of the recently issued report by ALONE which clearly demonstrates that up to one third of people who are currently in nursing homes do not need to be there, should not be there and would be much happier and more fulfilled in their own communities with their own families, friends and neighbours. It is a question of putting in place the resources, which may be significantly less than what is currently invested in fair deal and other such schemes. If we were more generous and caring with the carer's allowance and made a change to the rules and regulations of that particular scheme, and if we looked at schemes such as the home help scheme, the public health scheme and public health nurses, we could ensure that up to one third of people currently in nursing homes are with their families and in their communities. Everybody would win and it would be a win for society. We are becoming fixated in Europe with the concept of long-term residential care but that it is a "shady pines" solution for the elderly.

The majority of our elderly citizens can be looked after, provided for and supported in their homes and communities by a tweaking of the schemes which we have at the moment. It would probably save the taxpayer money as well, as the cost of the nursing homes scheme to the State is €1,200 per week while we simultaneously turn down carer's allowance claims of €200 per week for flimsy reasons. I ask the Leader to arrange this debate, either with the Minister for Social Protection, the Minister of State with responsibility for older people or a combination of the two. We need to look at a much more holistic way of looking after the elderly and we should have an aspiration for our elderly above and beyond simply providing nursing home beds.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.