Budget 2017, a carer's story: ‘My wish is for my mother to stay in her own home’

Joy Tutty’s 84-year-old mother, Nora, developed vascular dementia after she suffered heart failure and atrial defibrillation two and a half years ago.

Joy is a nurse and took two years carers’ leave to mind her mother, but this has just come to an end.

A single woman with no children, she has returned to her job at University Hospital Waterford on a reduced working week of just 15 hours, but Nora, who lives in Bunclody, Co Wexford, still needs full-time care on the two days that Joy is working.

Nora was widowed years ago and is mobile and still goes to church and to the supermarket with Joy, but she can’t carry out everyday domestic tasks on her own.

She also gets restless. She is only 48kg and has tried to leave the house by climbing over the garden gate or out of windows.

To facilitate her return to work, Joy was given 10 hours home help by the HSE and four extra hours from the Alzheimer’s Society.

“I am so grateful tor this, so extremely grateful, but I wish that I didn’t worry that it could be taken away.

“There is a right to a nursing home bed but there aren’t any rights around being cared for in your home. I’m not someone who believes in a handout culture, but there should be more rights for people to be cared for at home with supports if family want to look after them,” she said.

“It was good to see a €100 increase in the carer’s tax credit. I can apply for that this year now that I’m back at work on reduced hours, however it would be great if we didn’t have to beg for everyday support,” she said.

Joy’s sister died 10 years ago so she and her mum are on their own as Nora doesn’t have any siblings.

Nora’s geriatrician is warning that she will have to move to a nursing home in six months as she will likely be bed bound. But Joy thinks she should be able to “stay in her own bed; in her own home” — if only there was adequate support in the community.

“I am a nurse and I would like to keep my mum at home and my wish and her wish is for her to stay in her own home. I don’t want her to go to a nursing home when I can manage her at home with a bit of help. I don’t want her to be tube fed or any of the things that could befall her in residential care,” she said.

“I’ve been doing this now for two and a half years and yes my life is on hold, but I wouldn’t have it any other way .”

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