Only 18 social workers to care for elderly population

ONLY a handful of social workers are charged with looking after the tens of thousands of elderly people still living at home across the country, according to the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW).

In Dublin, there are just three community social workers with responsibility for the elderly. The IASW said the reason there are only 18 social workers supporting elderly people across the whole country is that much of the community resources are directed at children at risk.

The IASW has called for the balance to be restored by ensuring that the 32 planned senior case worker positions, recommended by a 2002 Department of Health report on elder abuse, are filled solely by social workers.

It is estimated up to 20,000 older people are subjected to sexual, physical and emotional abuse each year.

IASW spokesman, John Brennan said: “Public health nurses will agree that all across this country, there is a huge lack when it comes to the elderly.

“They are at a huge disadvantage when compared to the elderly in the UK, who have such better access to health professionals.”

It is estimated the number of community social workers would need to increase six-fold to reach British levels.

Differences have emerged between the IASW and the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) in recent months over which professional is best suited to take the case worker positions.

Shortly before Christmas, the INO sent a letter to the HSE “seeking confirmation that the case worker positions would be open to all relevant disciplines”.

Age Action Ireland spokesman Paul Murray said yesterday some progress has been made in implementing Protecting Our Future - Report of the Working Group on Elder Abuse, but more was left to do.

The report recommended that about €4.25 million a year be spent on resourcing the area of elder abuse, with a review of funding in 2007.

The HSE confirmed yesterday that €2m was allocated in this year’s budget to fight elder abuse.

Mr Murray said: “The appropriate staff structures have yet to be put in place, but a lot of training of health professionals has taken place. There is a great need now to have a dedicated person dealing with elder abuse whom health professionals and the public can contact if they have suspicions.”

A spokesman for the HSE said it had implemented a number of recommendations included in the Elder Abuse report.

“These include the establishment of steering groups in each former health board area. These groups are in the process of developing clear policies and guidelines for the protection of vulnerable adults,” he said.