The Irish Hospice Foundation Welcomes More Nursing Home Beds

The Irish Hospice Foundation Welcomes More Nursing Home Beds

THE IRISH HOSPICE FOUNDATION WELCOMES MORE NURSING HOME BEDS

EXPRESSES CONCERN AT IMPACT OF CHANGES TO HOUSING GRANTS

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The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) has today (9th January) welcomed the announcement from the Health Service Executive that new nursing home beds are to openfrom next week and home care support options are to be introduced but it expressed concern that the decision to change the eligibility for housing grants could have an impact on whether people can fulfil their wish to live and die at home.

While an IHF survey in 2004 found that up to two thirds of people wish to die at home, 26% of people actually die in their own homes. More than seven out of 10 people die outside their homes - 43% in our acute hospitals. An IHF hospital audit in 2010 found that over 80% of people entered hospital via the A&E. It was estimated that up to one quarter of people could have died at home if the community supports were in place.

Sharon Foley, CEO of the IHF, commented: “We would be concerned at changes being made to any community support on the basis of age alone. Access to State supports should be based on need.

At the very least there is now a lot of confusion around eligibility for housing grants for older people and people with disabilities who live at home. This can cause a lot of stress for vulnerable people. The Government must clarify what changes are being made to the three national schemes and particularly any safeguards there will be for people adversely affected by the changes.”

Ms Foley concluded : “Any grant or scheme such as home care packages which supports people to live independently at home should be protected and expanded in fact. Community supports ensure that people have choice to live and perhaps die in their own homes which is what most people want and is also in line with Government policy. It is also ultimately more cost effective for the State. We welcome the measures announced today by the HSE Acute Services National Director Ian Carter. ”