Sir, – Regarding Prof Des O'Neill's excellent column "It's time to insist on proper care for people with dementia" (Second Opinion, Health + Family, June 28th), the Alzheimer Society of Ireland welcomes his call for openness and transparency regarding the effective freezing of homecare packages since last March.
We back Prof O’Neill’s call for a statement from the HSE on this matter.
Homecare packages are a vital lifeline for people living with dementia and their family carers. A report we jointly launched with Age Action, the Association Social Workers and UCD’s School of Social Work this month, revealed as many as half of social workers’ clients processed for long-term institutional care would not have needed it if suitable home supports had been available.
It is time that the Government played more than lip-service to its own policy of supporting the older community to stay at home for as long as possible. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is calling for greater homecare supports for the 55,000 people living with dementia in Ireland, 63 per cent of whom live in the community. Our hope is this call will not fall on deaf ears.
Long-term residential care is an important piece of the care model but it is increasingly being prioritised over community care.
It is time to value people with dementia who are being channelled into institutional care. – Yours, etc,
TINA LEONARD,
Head of Advocacy
and Public Affairs,
The Alzheimer Society
of Ireland,
Temple Road,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.