Nursing home crisis sees increase in elderly home care

Nursing home crisis sees increase in elderly home care
“The home care sector in Ireland is expected to care for an increasing number of older people as a result of the recent waiting list crisis for the Fair Deal Scheme”, says Jonathan Acton, Manager of Home Instead Senior Care in Mullingar.
Waiting times for nursing home funding have doubled over three months new figures from Nursing Home Ireland reveal. The number of people on the waiting list further increased by more than 500 over three months. This can leave families with a bill of up to €15,000 before any funding is received.
The Fair Deal scheme was introduced five years ago to provide state financial support for nursing home costs and it is feared the long waiting times could be putting older people’s health and quality of life at risk.
“Priority should be given to dealing with the Fair Deal waiting list crisis and care options for older people in the local community. We need a policy that favours home and community-based care in addition to institutional care. Older people are suffering and missing out on needed care as a result of this waiting list crisis”, says Jonathan Acton of Home Instead Senior Care. 
 
“We are receiving more home care enquiries as a result of the long wait for nursing home care. Older people and their families are struggling to cope and are in need of more help than is currently being provided by the Fair Deal Scheme”, says Jonathan!
 
Home care is a very personal and intimate type of care. A home caregiver will deliver one-on-one care that matches the needs of the older person. There is no waiting for help with activities of daily living which may happen in an institutionalised care setting. A caregiver spends quality time with the person and is readily available. A friendship and bond is formed between the care giver and client which grows over time. This provides for the development of the older persons independence and provides for the best outcomes to be realised.  
 
Tax relief of up to 41% is available on home care fees and home care grants are readily available. This makes home care much more affordable for families during a time that there is so much stress on our health service. At Home Instead we are committed to providing the best quality care to families and their loved ones enabling them to live healthier for longer than other wise possible in their own homes.
 
For more information on care options in the local community call (044) 938 - 5260 or visit www.homeinstead.ie.
Alternatively we welcome people to call up and see us at our office in Marlinstown for a chat and a coffee.