State care for aged 'unregulated'
State-run home care for the elderly suffers from huge inefficiencies and a complete absence of regulation, a report has claimed.
An investigation by PA Consulting on behalf of the Irish Private Home Care Association (IPHCA) said the Health Service Executive (HSE) could save 80 million euro if changes were implemented - money that could fund home help for an additional 16,500 seniors.
The study also alleged there was no regulation of home care services for 60,000 older people nationwide.
The HSE denied the claims, stating the figures used were inaccurate.
Ed Murphy, IPHCA president, said the report revealed a real need for the HSE to revisit its approach to the home care market. "Regulating the home care market is a matter of urgency, it is the only way to guarantee the quality of home care received by Ireland's seniors," he said.
Mr Murphy added that the number of home care recipients could nearly double to 96,260 by 2021, saying: "This heightens the importance of getting conditions right for a regulated market due to the increasing demand that will be placed on Ireland's home care market in the coming years."
The report revealed that quality guidelines for home support services drafted in 2006 had never been implemented - meaning almost 60,000 seniors were availing of state care with no monitoring.
It also claimed there was a clear risk of abuse because of unsuitably qualified, vetted or monitored care givers.
The HSE confirmed there was no statutory basis for regulation and inspection of home care services, but stressed that all staff were supervised.
"The HSE also provides training and induction for its home help staff, it undertakes Garda clearance for all new home help employees and home help staff are supervised by Home Help Organisers on an ongoing basis," it added.
Press Association
