Special needs accommodation cuts ‘will hurt elderly’

OLDER people will be badly hit by the halving of Government funding for special needs accommodation.

The huge social and financial benefits provided by hundreds of social housing schemes for the elderly are also overlooked, according to a study.

A report into the provision of housing and care services for older people, carried out by the Irish Council for Social Housing, forecasts a rise in the number of elderly being forced into nursing home care before they need it.

According to Donal McManus, executive director of the ICSH, the national federation of voluntary housing association, “it is the voluntary housing sector which has stepped in to bridge the gap in the provision of housing and services to older people.

“There is a lack of awareness of the benefits of supported housing which provides accommodation and care to older people in their own communities, at a fraction of the cost of nursing home care.”

Over 20 voluntary housing associations came together in Dublin yesterday to discuss the findings of the report. Of immediate concern is the reduction in funding for special needs accommodation under the Capital Assistance Scheme, reduced in Budget 2011 by 48% from last year to €75m, which will significantly curtail any new development.

Donal McManus said: “A shortage of supply of supported housing will result in more older people in nursing care prematurely, which will cost the state more financially and socially.”

The report found that a range of services are also provided to tenants, such as laundry, day centre, alarm and social activities. The aim of supported housing is to allow older people the opportunity to live and remain active within their communities for as long as possible.

Mr McManus added: “As people live longer, the provision of housing for older people will become a bigger and more important issue. The ICSH is promoting the model of supported housing as a cost effective and community focussed option. Voluntary housing associations are a crucial part of the strategy to improve choice for older people.”

Meanwhile, the importance for men of pursuing an active retirement will be the subject of Active Retirement Ireland’s Annual General Meeting taking place today in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry.

According to Maureen Kavanagh, chief executive of Active Retirement Ireland: “Our focus for the coming year is to promote the inclusion of men in all our activities and encourage our member associations to include more hands-on activities such as bowling and hill-walking to attract more men.”

Further information about Active Retirement Ireland is available at www.activeirl.ie

* The Older & Bolder alliance has welcomed Kathleen Lynch’s appointment as the Minister for Older People.