Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1639. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of an implementation plan to deliver on the objectives of tackling loneliness and isolation; when this will be published; if funding will be provided for same in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37842/23]
View answerEvidence shows loneliness is a significant issue for population health and a number of different studies have linked loneliness to multiple chronic health conditions. The pandemic was a major contributory factor to increases in social isolation and the 2021 Healthy Ireland Survey, carried out while significant restrictions were still in place, found a significant increase in isolation and a decrease in the proportion of the population reporting positive mental health. Some 81% reported lower levels of social connectedness and 30% reported worsening mental health since the pandemic started.
Given the detrimental impacts of loneliness, a significant body of work has been undertaken, across diverse areas of the Department of Health and the HSE, to address this.
Reconnecting with others has numerous physical and mental health benefits. In response to the increase in loneliness which particularly impacts older people, the Ministers for Health and the Chief Medical Officer, supported by Healthy Ireland, developed a nationwide campaign, aimed at older people, to encourage them to rebuild their social connections and re-integrate into their communities. Post-pandemic, with vaccines and sensible precautions, it is safe for older people to reconnect with the world, to say “Hello Again World”, make up for lost time and re-establish important connections with their community.
Social prescribing recognises that health is heavily determined by social factors such as poverty, isolation and loneliness, offering GPs and other health professionals a means of referring people to a range of non-clinical community supports which can have significant benefits for their overall health and wellbeing. HSE-funded Social Prescribing services are now available in 44 locations across the country. These services are delivered in partnership with community and voluntary organisations such as Family Resource Centres and Local Development Companies, and as part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.
Mental health of older people is a priority in Sharing the Vision, Ireland's national mental health policy, with actions including improving access to Mental Health Services for Older People, promoting evidence-based digital mental health interventions in the general population and with older persons, and linking recommendations with the National Positive Ageing Strategy.
To this end, the Age Friendly Homes Programme began in 2021 as a two-year pilot project, with the overall objectives to prevent early or premature admission to long-term residential care; enable older people to continue living in their homes or in a home more suited to their needs; help older people to live with a sense of independence and autonomy and support older people to be and feel part of their communities. Funding of €5.2 million has been allocated in Budget 2023 to roll-out the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme nationally in 2023.
The HSE, in conjunction with ALONE, is also continuing the roll out of a Support Coordination Service across the country. This service will support older people to live well at home independently, and for as long as possible, through support coordination and access to services such as, but not limited to; practical supports, befriending, social prescribing, assistive technology, and coordinated linkages to local community groups in their area. This service is being led out under the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme, a strategic reform programme in line with Sláintecare proposals and priorities which seeks to deliver new and enhanced services and support the move toward a more community-centric model of healthcare.
As part of the ECC programme, the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) model aims to shift the delivery of care for older people away from acute hospitals towards a community based, planned and coordinated care model which is closely aligned to Primary Care and Acute sector partners. The objective of the programme is to improve the quality of life for older people by providing access to integrated care and support that is planned around their needs and choices. This supports them to live well in their own homes and communities without the need to access acute care settings. As of Q2 2023, 23 ICPOP teams have been established across Ireland, with 30 expected to be established in total by year end.
The Government is committed to ensuring that those living with dementia have access to the right services and supports to help them to live well in their communities, and has prioritised much-needed investment in dementia over the past three budgets.
We have invested €12.16 in dementia services and supports in 2023: €4.86 million has been provided for the National Dementia Strategy and €2.1 million for the full resumption of dementia-specific day care services. We have also prioritized investment valued at €5.2 million to allocate a minimum of 15% of 5 million new home support hours to people with dementia, up from 5% in 2021 and 11% in 2022. This investment is in addition to €5.9 million provided for the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy in 2021, and a further €7.3 million in 2022.
Acknowledging the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic on older persons, the Programme for Government (2020) commits to the establishment of a commission on care that will ‘assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens’, learning the lessons from COVID 19. In 2022 preliminary research was undertaken within the Department of Health in preparation for the establishment of the commission on care, the scoping and planning for which are being further advanced as a priority in 2023.
At a local level, Mental Health Day Services provided by the HSE are available to those who may require them, which provide mental health and medication supports, as well as wider assistances associated with daily living. In addition, in May this year I announced an additional €5.25 million funding for meals on wheels and day centres for older people to organisations across the country.
Decisions on the provision for this issue in Budget 2024 is a matter for the Estimates process preceding the Budget each year.
