Older people forced into care by lack of support, says charity

The Government is forcing older people into nursing homes by failing to provide support to allow them to continue living at home, according to a charity that provides services for older people.

The Alone organisation said a third of those in nursing home care with low to medium dependency needs could live at home if they were supported to do so.

Official policy supports the concept of ageing at home but sufficient funds are not being invested, it claimed.

The charity has called on the Government to reallocate a portion of funding from the Fair Deal nursing home scheme to provide support to older people who were able to live independently with some level of home care support.

Alone chief executive Seán Moynihan said: “We have a dramatically ageing population and the Government needs to take this into account and plan accordingly now. It needs to look at options of supportive housing and extra care housing that would allow older people to age in the community with additional supports.”

Over the past five years, funding for home help has been cut by €1.6 million and housing adaption grants for older people have been cut by almost €30 million, he said.