Older people must be helped to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, Fine Gael County Councillor Conor Bergin has said.
The current Fair Deal scheme provides a legal right to residential care, however, there is no equivalent programme for home care.
“A new vision is required to make Ireland one of the best countries in the world to support a long and fulfilled life,” Cllr Bergin said.
“Life after retirement should be active, connected, respected, secure, and independent, just as it is before. We need to be bolder and more ambitious in how we achieve this.”
Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said that establishing care in the home on a statutory footing is “central” to his role.
Minister O’Donnell admitted that the Government has made this same commitment before but failed to deliver on their promise.
“I am aware that this has been a commitment made before, but I intend to be the minister to deliver on it. It is my number one priority,” the Minister said.
“As people get older and their care needs evolve, they will have the option and legal right to be cared for in their own home should they so wish.
“Achieving this commitment will require focused efforts across several different areas of Government who will all be working towards developing a statutory framework.
“The first element will be to ensure that those who provide home care support are licensed and registered and that the highest standards are applied and the sector is regulated by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority).”
Cllr Bergin said the statutory home care scheme is “the first step” in enhancing long and fulfilling lives.
“The importance of helping older people assist them to remain independent and live in their homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible cannot be underestimated,” Cllr Bergin said.
“It is better for them, it is better for the country, and it demonstrates that the contribution older people have made to communities nationwide is immense.
“This should be recognised and rewarded by the State.”
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