More Home Care Packages for Mayo
Home Care Packages deliver a wide range of services to the elderly. In Mayo the Home Care Packages (HCP’s) are delivered after an assessment by a Public Health Nurse. A grant is then given to the elderly person or designated person by means of a cheque issued, then the older person or designated person is responsible for sourcing the additional care to allow the older person to stay at home
In this day and age, with more money than ever floating around the coffers of the Government, I find it appalling the number of Home Care Packages allotted to elderly people in the county. Getting information on this scheme is as accessible as Osama Bin Laden and that older people in the county are suffering as a result.
In my investigations on this issue, I tabled a Dail question to find out how many Home Care Packages were allotted to the county for 2006; the way in which they are distributed and the criteria used to identify need. The response was not very specific.
For the entire western region, only 525 Home Care Packages were sanctioned. These are entirely based on need. The number given to Mayo was not forthcoming and the number waiting or applying for the service was not mentioned either. Having contacted AGE ACTION, in Castlebar, I found out that of the 525 HCP's only 25 were allocated to the county this year, an absolute disgrace.
With nearly 20% of the population of Mayo over 65, I find it appalling that more HCP’s are not sanctioned for Mayo. They would help older people to leave hospital earlier, they would reduce pressure on A/E departments and they would support older people in this county to live in their own communities. Older people or their relatives should contact their community welfare office to access this service immediately. If this or other issues like affect please submit a comment and tell me your views
Home Care Packages deliver a wide range of services to the elderly. In Mayo the Home Care Packages (HCP’s) are delivered after an assessment by a Public Health Nurse. A grant is then given to the elderly person or designated person by means of a cheque issued, then the older person or designated person is responsible for sourcing the additional care to allow the older person to stay at home
In this day and age, with more money than ever floating around the coffers of the Government, I find it appalling the number of Home Care Packages allotted to elderly people in the county. Getting information on this scheme is as accessible as Osama Bin Laden and that older people in the county are suffering as a result.
In my investigations on this issue, I tabled a Dail question to find out how many Home Care Packages were allotted to the county for 2006; the way in which they are distributed and the criteria used to identify need. The response was not very specific.
For the entire western region, only 525 Home Care Packages were sanctioned. These are entirely based on need. The number given to Mayo was not forthcoming and the number waiting or applying for the service was not mentioned either. Having contacted AGE ACTION, in Castlebar, I found out that of the 525 HCP's only 25 were allocated to the county this year, an absolute disgrace.
With nearly 20% of the population of Mayo over 65, I find it appalling that more HCP’s are not sanctioned for Mayo. They would help older people to leave hospital earlier, they would reduce pressure on A/E departments and they would support older people in this county to live in their own communities. Older people or their relatives should contact their community welfare office to access this service immediately. If this or other issues like affect please submit a comment and tell me your views
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