Where are older people to live as they age?

Older & Bolder is alarmed at proposed cuts to community nursing homes and the threat to community care services

“What will happen now to older people? Where are older people to live as they age?

At a Press Conference today held in Dublin, days after the 2012 Budget, Older & Bolder Director Patricia Conboy said, “It is crucial that we protect what we already have in place. Older & Bolder are alarmed at the proposed cuts to community care homes and the danger posed to community care services by cuts in the Health Budget. I am asking: What will happen now to older people? Where are older people to live as they age? Since the Budget, Older & Bolder has been receiving emails and calls from older people who are deeply distressed by the reports of impending cuts. Some are telling us they can take no more. It is time to reconsider these cuts and I am asking Ministers Reilly and Lynch to engage with older people and their representatives in order to stop cuts which promise to create an unnecessary and deeply painful crisis for older people.”

Maurice O’Connell CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland said, “While the Alzheimer Society of Ireland fully recognises the current economic situation, we pertain that ignoring the crisis now will have huge financial consequences for the Government as demands for long term care will inevitably increase. People living with dementia can take no more. Many carers of people living with dementia are now at crisis point demonstrated by the fact that The Society has seen an increase of 53% in waiting lists over the past two years. A 20% cut to current funding would see The Society have to roll back 24,000 home help hours in the Dublin Mid-Leinster region alone. This is unsustainable - it is imperative that our existing community services are sustained.”

John Dunne CEO of the Carers Association said, “The Carers Association is concerned at the continuing failure to clarify and resolve the numerous health care cut back scenarios outlined in the run up to this year’s Budget. This is resulting in avoidable and damaging anxieties for thousands of vulnerable people throughout the country. In urging the government to clarify its intentions without further delay the Association reaffirms its support for ‘Make Home Work – the Right to Age Well at Home’ which emphasises the benefits to both patient and the Exchequer of developing community based supports as part of an integrated health care system.”