Mother appeals to State to help care for disabled son

A 73-YEAR-OLD Co Waterford woman has made an emotional appeal for reassurances that the State will take care of her profoundly mentally and physically handicapped son when she dies.

Helen Collender has spent 30 years asking a simple question of the State, the Department of Health and the South Eastern Health Board. “I’ve been asking the question - what will become of Vincent if I go?” she said. “To date, I’ve had no response.”

Vincent’s disability is so profound he can’t speak, has no use of his limbs, is not toilet trained and sleeps in a cot. Each day the 34-year-old’s elderly mother is helped to wash, dress and feed him.