Charity Condemns Fair Deal Waiting Lists

Homeless charity ALONE has condemned a fifteen-week waiting list it says is facing Fair Deal Scheme applicants.

The Fair Deal scheme aims to support people who need long-term financial home care.

Sean Moynihan, Chief Executive Officer of ALONE, said: "The problem is really spiralling out of control, older people are being left to in acute hospital beds or the responsibilities are being pushed back on families to care for them. The Government needs to step in with a contingency plan, last week Minister Varadkar alluded to the fact that the budget for this scheme has been used up for 2014, but this is simply not acceptable for the 2,100 older people on the waiting list."

Moynihan continued: "There are no goals or targets in the health service to reduce the waiting list for nursing home beds. There is too much focus on private nursing homes and public nursing homes are being neglected. From our point of view, community services and as much the answer as nursing home care – with increased local supports more older people would be able to live independently within their community. Studies have proven that remaining with the community is the preferred option for many older people and it’s far more economically viable."

(IT/CD)