Care homes future in jeopardy
Approximately 150 residents of care homes around the city and county are facing a massive hike in charges with some of the homes fearful that they will be forced to close their doors because of the introduction of tough new regulations.
The regulations if implemented will force a number of care homes to close according to local politicans.
“These homes are faced with a stark situation at present. They will either have to double or treble, the charges to their residents or some of them will have to consider the possibility of closure. Between the five homes in Kilkenny of which I speak, namely - the O'Gorman Home in Ballyragget, Prague House, Freshford, Mount Carmel of Callan, St. Joseph's, Kilmaganny and Gahan House in Graighnamanagh - there are over 100 full-time residents, but they cater for a much larger number of people who come in for day-care facilities and services. If these homes are forced to close, it will be a considerable loss to the local communities concerned,” Senator John Paul Phelan said.
Independant councillor, Cllr Pat Crowley is also lobbying against the measures describing them as ‘outrageous’. “I am lobbying for these homes to be de listed as long term beds with the HSE as then they will not be required to comply with the standards. They are not nursing homes, they are community welfare homes run by the local parishes. If people are sick they should be in nursing homes or in hospital but these places are home to the well elderly. At the moment the cost of staying in one of these care homes is approximately 200 euro per week but if they are forced to increase the level of care to nursing home standards these would treble and I dont see how they could survive. It is bureaucracy gone mad. This homes do not need 24-hour nursing home care and if this is forced on them the cost would be prohibitive. This is outrageous and if it goes ahead many of these homes will close,” added Cllr Crowley.
The new standards required for nursing homes are being imposed on such sheltered accommodation services which would result in residents paying twice or three times their current stay costs because 24-hour nursing cover under rigorous new Health Information and Quality Authority, (HIQA) care standards..
The voluntary directors of one care home in the county received a letter this week demanding the centre provide 24 hour nursing cover for its 40 residents by the start of next month or face severe penalties, including the threat of a prison term.
“Supported care homes or sheltered accommodation provide facilities for and cater for older persons, but they are not nursing homes. My difficulty, and the difficulty that these facilities are having at present, is that the HIQA standards for nursing homes are being applied to these supported care homes. The key issue is that HIQA requires nursing homes to have 24-hour nursing care available for patients,” said Senator Phelan.
“Most of the residents - they are not patients - in the supported care homes live independently. Indeed, in many such homes, at least in Kilkenny, other elderly persons in the community come into the facilities for the provision of services during the daytime.
Senator Phelan said the uncertainty the legislation has created is causing much anxiety for residents of the care homes and their extended families. He has sought direction from the Department of Health and Children on this issue over the past months and also raised the matter in the Seanad this week but has yet to get a satisfactory answer.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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