News Release: Let's start talking about where people can enjoy growing older in a place of their choice June 18, 2020

The charity Sage Advocacy says it is time to start talking about where people can best enjoy growing older in a place of their choice.

The impact of Covid-19 has focused attention on the nursing home sector and reinforced many people's opinion that they want to enjoy living their lives in their own homes and communities.

But as people age they sometimes need different levels of support which can create challenges for their families and friends which is why Sage Advocacy believes there should be a far, wider range of options available for people across the country as they grow older.

The organisation, which supports vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, says a minority of older people – probably one in five – require some form of support.

Sage Advocacy agrees with the remarks made by Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, to the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee when he said that ‘there is a requirement for very significant changes in relation to the model of care that are used in this country to care for our most vulnerable older people’’.

Mervyn Taylor, Executive Director of Sage Advocacy said: “We have lived with a system where some people end up in nursing homes against their will because of a lack of community based alternatives.

“We need a wider range of options and the next Government must Shed a Tier and develop a single tier, integrated support and care system for older people with a single source of funding”.

The organisation has suggested more options to enable older people and vulnerable adults to live and be supported in places of their choice could include:

• home sharing with registered and vetted tenants who could provide basic support,  
• foster families for older people who have no suitable family supports, 
• co-operative/housing mutuals that would enable groups of friends to live together and pool resources and share home care and support services,
• Teaghleach/household models of small communities of older people living in shared facilities.
• home support service in an older person’s home eg Home Care Package
• care villages - involving clusters of age friendly housing.

Ends

For further information please contact Francess McDonnell: 087 1738762

Mervyn Taylor, Executive Director, Sage Advocacy, is available for interview

Background: https://www.sageadvocacy.ie/shed-a-tier