Couple plead for care for disabled daughter

AN elderly couple caring for their 44-year-old quadriplegic daughter have pleaded for a long-term care plan to be put in place for her.

Denis McDonnell, 70, and his wife Mary, 70, live in Douglas, Cork, with their daughter Sinead.

Sinead has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, has scoliosis, a dislocated hip and is doubly incontinent.

This year her parents had to fight to have respite care restored after space at St Laurence Cheshire Home was restricted.

This was reduced by 80% and, although it has since been restored for the McDonnells, they are worried about what will happen if they get sick.

“There is no long-term care plan in place. We do not know what is going to happen when we are gone. There is no waiting list for long-term places and we just do not know.

“It was different when we were younger and fitter but we cannot look after Sinead in the same way,” said Mary.

Both Mary and Denis have suffered ill health in recent years and, although they avail of home-support, their anxiety was heightened recently when Sinead became uncomfortable during the night and they were unable to help her.

“The pathetic, painful, helpless look in her eyes broke our hearts and hit us in the pit of the stomach,” said Denis.

The McDonnells were speaking ahead of the annual Caring for Carers conference in Ennis this weekend.

More than 500 carers will discuss long-term planning and the future of community supports.

The conference will be addressed by Heath Service Executive chief executive Professor Brendan Drumm.

It will be attended by carers from a network of 90 support groups around the country.

It takes place as the Department of Social and Family Affairs yesterday launched the consultation process for the first National Carers’ Strategy.

Minister of State with responsibility for older people Máire Hoctor has given people until April 18 to register their submission in relation to this plan.

She said when it is finalised the strategy will set out the Government’s vision for family and informal carers with targets in a number of action areas including income support, health care and services, housing, transport, information services and labour market issues.

Chief executive of the Carers’ Association Enda Egan said while the organisation welcomed the move it is important the department does not go on a solo run.

“There is a major shortfall in the number of family carers receiving financial support from the State, let alone any other form of support.

“The strategy marks a landmark policy development for family carers, particularly the 95,000 family carers who receive no state assistance, and must be comprehensive to cover the financial, social, health and emotional needs of family carers,” he said.

* Submissions for the strategy can be emailed to [e-mail] or posted to National Carers’ Strategy Consultation, Planning Unit, Department of Social and Family Affairs, Store Street, Dublin 1.