Handicapped boy's parents distraught at lack of care

THE parents of a severely mentally handicapped boy have spoken of their trauma now that they can no longer cope with him at home.

Their desperation is compounded by the confirmation that there is no residential care available for him.

Alan Donelon (15), of Clareview Park in Galway, has attended special schools since he was three but his parents, Miriam and Michael, have been finding it "hard to cope to with the increased physical demands on them. They were so distressed last week that they brought their son to the Western Health Board's community care headquarters in Galway to highlight their plight and to seek professional care for him.

Alan must be supervised at all times. He has a habit of throwing things and has developed epilepsy. He recently put his head through a double glazed window.

He is the youngest of six children. His siblings have all left the family home, which leaves Miriam and Michael to cope on their own. He does, however, attend the John Paul Centre for the handicapped and can stay there occasionally as staff provide respite care.

"I know it sounds cruel for parents to want their son to be put in residential care, but Alan is just like a big baby around the house all the time. He is still in nappies, he has no speech, is severely handicapped and difficult to handle," Michael explained.

"He is usually collected and delivered to and from the centre, but last week it took three staff members to walk him home because he refused to get into the taxi that was to bring him home."

His mother said two years ago she first sought part time residential care.

"The centre have done all they can and they have been very good to us. We know their hands are tied. It is a Government problem because of lack of funds, which is preventing the centre from being able to give him full time residential care.

Alan bangs his head a lot and he makes a lot of noise but we have very understanding neighbours. Nothing is safe in a room when he comes into it. He has great strength and only sleeps a couple of hours a night.

"I know he needs professional full time supervision now. The centre knows that and we have made other authorities like the gardai, the social worker and the health board aware of it but there doesn't seem to be any money to place him anywhere," she said.

The centre, which is run by the Brothers of Charity, has 62 residents aged between 10 and 40. An additional 25 attend each day and, according to its director of services, Mr Patrick McGinley, there are four or five other urgent cases in Co Galway alone.

While he appreciated their urgent need, placements for residential care were in the hands of an independent health board committee which was aware of Alan's case. He confirmed Alan had been on a waiting list for two years but that a suitable vacancy had not arisen.

Mr McGinley added "Because our residents are long term and vacancies only arise when a death occurs, we can only provide actual places if we get the funding to do so.

This would be possible in one of their three homes in the community or by opening a unit at the centre not being utilised at present. It costs £25,000 a year per resident, which is paid by the Department of Health directly. The health board has provided extra revenue this year, but it is not enough to take on extra residents.

Alan Donelon's application for residency is due to come again before the health board committee at its next meeting.