ALONE pre-budget submission 2017 calls for an increase in home help hours to meet the needs of our ageing demographic
“Home help hours are a much more cost effective and person-centred way of supporting people with medium support needs to age at home rather than moving them into the nursing home system.”
2nd September 2016 ALONE is calling on the government to increase home help hours in line with demand to ensure that older people are supported to age in the community. The number of home help hours has been cut by 1.58 million since 2010. In that time, the number of older people in the state has increased by 18%[1].
Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said, “Repeated studies have demonstrated that ageing at home is the first choice of older people and their families. Numerous government policies have subscribed to this principle, not least the National Positive Ageing Strategy.
“Home help hours are a much more cost effective and person-centred way of supporting people with medium support needs to age at home rather than moving them into the nursing home system.
Nursing Homes play a key role in the care of the very old with high support needs. However, with Ireland’s older population is set to reach 1.4million over the next 30 years, the state’s statutory obligation to provide long-term residential care must be extended to community care.“
In this pre-budget submission, ALONE is also calling for an increase the rent supplement as they believe that homeless older people present the next housing crisis. In the last 6 months in particular ALONE has seen a dramatic increase in the number of homeless older people coming to them for help; a large portion of them having been evicted from private rented accommodation. The increased demand for private rented accommodation has led to soaring rents, making the rent supplement increasingly inadequate. As a result, older people are being pushed out of the market into homeless services.
In addition, ALONE is calling on the government to commit to the following in the Budget 2017:
- Increase the state pension by implementing the triple lock model
- Increase in the Living Alone Allowance in line with inflation
- Abolish the €2.50 prescription charges
For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032 or visit www.alone.ie.
[1] CSO, Population and Migration Statistics, August 2015, http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/pme/populationandmigrationestimatesapril2015/
