The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI ) is calling on the Government to invest €21.3 million in vital community supports, care services and social protection to meet the growing needs of thousands of people across the country.
The recommendations are contained in The ASI’s Pre-Budget Submission 2024 Dementia Can’t Wait – Dementia Supports to Empower Lives, which calls for State investment to address difficulties in meeting a rising demand for dementia services.
The document highlights the demand and need for:
€2.3 million for dementia-specific day services, including Day Care at Home and Weekend Activity Clubs
€10 million for Dementia Home Care
€2.2 million for therapeutic support and education of family carers, including education, training, professional counselling and psychotherapy
€5.2 million for Enhanced Dementia Care including: at least one Clinical Dementia Nurse Specialist role per acute hospital, a minimum of one Memory Assessment Support Service (MASS ) per 150,000 of population and a €1m investment in Dementia Research.
The launch of the submission was accompanied by the announcement of initial findings of The ASI’s 2023 National Survey – User Experience of Dementia in Ireland (carried out in May-June 2023 ), which found that 38% of Dementia Carers are struggling with their caring responsibilities and that 27% of people living with dementia feel lonely often.
A total of 43% of carers reported that they have visited a healthcare professional in the last month on account of their own health, 43% rated their mental health and 34% their physical health as ‘Poor / Fair‘.
Meanwhile, 63% of families in receipt of home care said they have experienced a reduction or delay in home care due to a staffing crisis. Many are regularly receiving significantly fewer hours than they are allocated as there are not enough staff to deliver them. Similarly, families in certain areas cannot receive any Home Care as there are no staff available.
A further recommendation is a €1.6 million investment in Pay Equity for Dementia Workers as ASI teams, which provide the majority of dementia-specific services, receive less favourable terms than public sector workers in comparable work, leading to recruitment and retention issues.
Finally, the submission highlights a need for Adequate Social Protection for Dementia Carers including to:
Increase the Carers Allowance by a minimum of €27.50
Make Carers Allowance a qualifying payment for the Fuel Allowance
Recognise the costs of caring in the allowable deductions for Carer’s Allowance, including medical expenses and fuel, and assess income on net value.
The value of Dementia Carers’ work to the State is estimated to be in the region of €804 million per annum.
Summary
In Budget 2024, The ASI is calling on the Irish Government to invest €21.3m in infrastructure and community supports for people affected by dementia including:
€2.3 million – for Dementia Specific Day Services, including Day Care at Home and Weekend Activity Clubs
€10 million – for Dementia Home Care
€2.2 million – for Therapeutic Support and Education for Family Carers
€5.2 million – for Enhanced Dementia Care including Dementia Nurse Specialists, the Model of Care for Dementia and Dementia Research
€1.6 million – for Pay Parity for Dementia Care Workers
Adequate Social Protection for Dementia Carers.
