Home support waiting list soars
AN increase in the number of older people waiting for Home Supports in the space of two months from the HSE in Dublin Mid-West has left Fianna Fáil TD John Curran ‘deeply frustrated’.
Deputy Curran was commenting after the HSE confirmed to him that at the end of April 2018 there were 857 older people in the Dublin Mid-West area waiting on Home Supports – an increase of 207 people from February figures.
A total of 6,117 older people are now waiting for essential home support services across the country despite having been previously assessed and approved.
“This is a staggering number of people, waiting for support that the HSE has already been deemed to be necessary.
“The figures themselves are damning but even more concerning is the fact that the HSE do not have the ability to determine the length of time these people have been waiting – it could be months and even years.
“Week in, week out I am meeting families who are desperate for home support services for their elderly loved one.
“It is often the case that these families are on leave from work to care for the person or are struggling to balance helping out with their own day to day lives. This can be hugely stressful on family relationships.
Need additional home supports
“These people have already been assessed by the HSE and it has been determined they need additional home supports.
“It makes little sense to delay giving home care supports to people that need them. In fact, it goes against the Government’s stated aim of ensuring people can continue living in their home if they so choose to do so.
“The current waiting lists cannot be left to grow and grow,” he concluded.
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