In light of the RTE expose of the care offered to vulnerable elderly people in two nursing homes in Dublin and Laois, the Government has a duty to ensure that big corporations planning to offer residential care must be subject to full background checks.
That’s according to Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly who says that “The Government’s lip service around the care of the elderly is as hollow as it is insincere, and given that Emeis , the provider at the centre of this disgraceful scandal , is planning to open a new facility at Lisdarn in Cavan later this year , I want real action on due diligence and not weasel words that offer no comfort whatsoever to either those elderly people who have to go into these facilities or indeed their families who are worried sick about them”.
I am deeply concerned that the corporate provider at the centre of this scandal in Ireland was embroiled in huge controversy in France but underwent rebranding and then commenced operations in Ireland.
This is quite disturbing. I would like to see full background checks on companies offering care to those who are amongst our most vulnerable in this country.
“I am all the more worried now about our care for the elderly given I received confirmation from Cavan Co Co (see attached) that funding for the ‘Older People’s Grant’ in Cavan has temporarily paused – because of insufficient funds. The Council has its allocation exhausted. By its actions shall we know them, and this Government is failing older people again and again by not allocating sufficient funds to Councils to help keep people in their homes. If the Government was actually serious about helping keep people in their homes, it would fund the scheme appropriately.
Cavan County Council recognises the scheme aims to support vulnerable members of the community to remain in their homes and within their communities for as long as possible and it is doing its best to provide this, but it is doing so with one hand tied behind its back as it is clearly not getting the support from government.
Ireland is an outlier in this area; other countries have excellent models of care that allow elderly and vulnerable people to live independently, while having huge support and backup.
The government is clearly not providing enough public care services for our older population. We are an aging population and the chances of people needing nursing home care is I in 3.
Make no mistake about it; this and successive governments are reactionary instead of pro active, and always rush to action once a scandal erupts. Given it is two decades on from the Leas Cross Nursing Home outrage, it is absolutely galling to think that people who have worked to build up this state and now need care, respect and dignity in their advancing years are being treated so abysmally.
The outsourcing of care of our elderly to the private sector for profit is a huge mistake. We know it is driven by a desire for profit and it is not particularly interested in providing continuity of care as staff turnover can be very high and this is no surprise given the fact that these staff are not paid well, to say the least.
How can a care model of service be genuinely caring when the end goal is cold hard profit?
People are NOT commodities, and I believe it is unconscionable to treat them as such.
If the ongoing and deepening housing crisis has taught us anything it is that a home is more than a building. It is a place of safety, sanctuary, of memories, of love and of deep connection.
Care should be based in the community, by the community and for the community’s benefit by people who know the needs of their community,
The beautiful old Irish seanfhocail is so resonant here , Ar scáth a Chéile a mhaireann na daoine ; we are all interconnected and depend on each other and the Government has to do all it can to keep older people at home, in their own little sanctuaries with the best possible back up care.
