Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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480. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on plans to ensure that those with disabilities who are living in nursing homes can be supported to move out of the older-people-care setting to more appropriate facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11492/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It is recognised that nursing homes can, at times, be appropriate care options where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.

Nonetheless, for some people under the age of 65 years, nursing homes are not an appropriate setting, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

There is a commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of inappropriately accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes and to facilitate where appropriate, people under 65s who wish to live elsewhere. Additional funding has been provided in recent budgets to enable the HSE to work with people under 65 years to this end.

In response to the Ombudsman’s report, the HSE is co-ordinating a programme of work to review and implement the report’s recommendations for which the HSE has accountability.

A national Implementation Steering Committee (ISC) has been established. The aims of this steering committee are to; oversee the implementation of the recommendations set out in the Ombudsman’s report, provide a level of assurance regarding the health, safety and dignity of residents aged under 65 years living in nursing home settings, and, ensure the efficient transition to alternative care settings where appropriate.

To support the programme of work and address the recommendations, a programme office was established and an implementation team formed. This team has been divided into 5 work streams:

1. Quality of life and model of Service development

2. Funding and personal finances

3. Services access and navigation

4. Informed consent policy and human rights

5. NH U65 survey (previously SRF project)

Work has commenced under each of these workstreams.

Moving forward in Q1 2023, the HSE advises that it will be working with the Ombudsman to produce an interim report on the HSE’s overall progress and specific progress against the recommendations.

I am informed by the HSE that up to end December, 22 people transitioned from Nursing Homes to homes of their choosing in the community in 2022. These transitions have been to own home (adapted), family home (adapted), new council house (adapted) and specialised residential services. The CHO teams are working on delivering further placements this year.

In addition to supporting individuals who wish to transition into the community, the HSE are also funding enhanced quality of life supports for individuals who through either will and preference and/or assessment of need will be continuing their placement in the Nursing Home. For these individuals, the aim of these supports is, to improve the daily life of these younger people, while they are still in a nursing home or to help them prepare for a future transition.