Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Health if any specific programmes have been put in place to assist persons with disabilities who are aging [48034/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Agencies provide tailored supports and activities to meet the individual needs of people with a disability including their needs as they grow older. As an example, the Department is aware of reminiscence therapy in St Raphael's Centre, Youghal aimed at older clients and the introduction of care standards by the Daughters of Charity Services to support people with intellectual disability and dementia.

However, the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services, which was published in July this year, recommended a person-centred supports model and an assessment of need process which addresses the needs of the individual at whatever point they are in the life cycle. A person's requirements for supports and services should be re-assessed at the individual's request, at key transition periods or following a change in the individual's health or personal circumstances, in order to ensure that services are responsive to the changing needs of the individual. This re-assessment process should be practical and capable of being integrated into an agency's person-centred planning and manpower utilisation and deployment planning process.

The National Disability Databases assist in informing the regional and national planning of disability services by providing information on current service use and future service needs. The Databases are managed by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health. The National Intellectual Disability Database Annual Report for 2011, points to a changing age profile in those people with disabilities. This reflects an increase in the lifespan of people with intellectual disability and along with the general demographic trend, has major implications for planning for services designed specifically to meet the needs of older people with intellectual disability.

The Department has provided funding towards the Intellectual Disability (ID) Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, which was developed with a view to bridging the information gap that currently exists in Ireland in relation to ageing amongst those with intellectual disability. Over the next 10 years, the Supplement will chart and provide in-depth information on all domains of the lives of those participants, including their health, social, economic, environmental and psychological status. The data which becomes available from the ID Supplement, will be available to inform the ongoing planning and delivery of services to people with intellectual disability as they age.