HSE elderly care fund welcomed

Age Action has welcomed moves to establish a special HSE fund for services and facilities which would enable more older people to remain living at home, rather than havingto go into nursing homes.

According to media reports today, the Department of Health has asked the HSE to establish the fund in 2012.

This fund would would provide for a range of supports including a specialist elderly care stream in hospitals, speedy access to discharge packages such as home care packages and home aids, fast access to step-down rehabilitation and re-entry to acute hospital services if needed.

"Age Action believes these measures, if adequately funded, will be a major assistance to older people who are experiencing some health care problems, but who wish to remain living at home for as long as possible," Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said.

Age Action said the funding would also reduce the numbers of people being admitted to nursing homes who had low or medium dependency needs.

"While there has been much debate during 2011 about nursing homes - due to funding difficulties and public nursing home bed closures - the bigger challenge for society is how we are going to support older people who want to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible," Mr Timmins added.

[Posted: Mon 19/12/2011]