Most older people not helped by new scheme, say critics

OPPOSITION parties and groups representing older people have said the Government does not have enough community care in place for the 95% of older people who will not be eligible for the proposed nursing home scheme.

Only those who are considered to have high dependency will be entitled to the scheme, while the remainder will be entitled to home care packages and home help promised by the Government.

The Minister for Health Mary Harney, said about a quarter of those currently in nursing homes do not need to be there: “We estimate that there’s 6,000-7,000 people in nursing homes at the, moment in Ireland who have very low levels of dependency and if they had been provided with home support they would have been able to stay at home. That’s why I have increased greatly the home care package to €5,000 in 2007. All the evidence suggests that if people can stay at home they lead a higher quality of life and on average live two years longer. So we’re going to make the nursing home the place of last resort.