Calls for clarity as Leitrim home help services see significant reductions

Concerns have been brought to councillors regarding the decline in both the availability and quality of home help services in Leitrim.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Paddy O’Rourke proposed a motion requesting the Council ask officials from the HSE to explain why there aren’t enough home help services in Leitrim to support elderly and disabled people living in their homes.

Additionally, Cllr O’Rourke’s motion sought clarification on whether there has been a policy change regarding the types of tasks staff are permitted to perform during visits.

“There seems to be a big drop in the availability of home help services to aged persons or disabled persons in their own home.

“There also seems to be a change in determining the nature of tasks undertaken by home help.

“I’m getting complaints from people who used to have someone come in and prepare a light meal and that has been discontinued,” Cllr O’Rourke told members.

Cllr O’Rourke noted that as a result of this, some home help workers now only sit with the service user, which, while appreciated, does not fully meet the individual’s needs.

Adaptation Grants of up to €40,000 available in Leitrim

People across Leitrim can receive grants of €40,000 under the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, an increase of €10,000 from December 1.

For instance, some service users have come to rely on a light lunch being prepared, which may no longer be provided.

Cllr O’Rourke requested that relevant HSE officials attend a meeting as soon as possible with the Council. All members agreed on holding a meeting.

“There’s issues in regard to very reliable home help who have a long track record in supplying good services and they are dropping out of the system.

“There’s no replacements for them, and then agencies are being deployed and the cost of that is horrendous compared to the system that was in place,” Cllr O’Rourke added.

“We need a frank face to face discussion to let them tell us what is prohibiting them from maintaining the existing service or expanding it in order to maintain elderly and disabled persons in their own home.”

Cllr Gary Prior told members he had a long conversation with a HSE member of staff, and was told that the staff are under embargo, they are understaffed, overworked and a lot are retiring.

“It’s a massive issue, it’s something that we all fully support, and is a serious problem at the moment,” Cllr Prior said.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds highlighted that low pay is a concern and also that home help staff are required to arrange their own cover when taking annual leave. She described this requirement as unsustainable and something that needs to be addressed.

The Council is due to make contact with the relevant section of the HSE to organise a meeting.

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