IRELAND | Older people must be allowed to live at home

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall discusses the research report 'Meeting Older People's Preference for Care: Policy, but what about practice?' which was published by Age Action along with the IASW, the Alzheimer Society and UCD in June 2016.

The report highlighted the manner in which so many older people are directed towards nursing homes, when they would prefer to remain in their own homes with appropriate support if necessary.

I have no doubt that many nursing homes are working to provide a good quality environment with opportunities for social engagement and recreation. Equally, for some older people, a group setting may well be a preferred option.

However, if the funding system is designed to discriminate in favour of residential provision, and there is insufficient support available to enable people to remain at home, then many people will continue to be denied their right to choose.

Ireland has been slow to tackle the issue of institutional care settings, or congregated settings as they are often referred to. In many other countries, services for groups of people who require support to live and participate in their communities have been provided to individuals and this allowed institutions to be closed.

Press Release

Source: Office of the Ombudsman - IRELAND