The death of a woman in Enniscorthy has shocked communities everywhere. Anne Dempsey looks at the procedures to take if you think somebody is at risk
The death last week of 58-year-old Evelyn Joel in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford highlights the situation of the many people ill and dependent in a family setting.
Catherine Cox, deputy chief executive officer of the Carer's Association, says there are an estimated 150,000 family carers in the country, including 50,000 full-time.
What should a carer do if they are struggling to cope and what should friends or neighbours do if they fear that all is not well?
"We receive frequent calls from carers who say 'I'm at the end of my tether', 'I'm suicidal'. We can offer advice, a listening ear, we can tell them about entitlements they may not know of, such as day care services, and we also offer a respite service. We go in and let the carer get out for a few hours or go to bed and have a rest," says Cox.
"There are other people they can turn to. First, it often happens that one family member takes the main responsibility of caring and the others step back," says Cox.
"This could be a time to talk in the family to see if you can spread the load and get a bit of a break. The public health nurse is another support.
"If an outsider is worried about a situation, again you're probably looking at contacting the public health nurse or going through another family member or the social worker at your local health centre, or your GP. If you feel the situation is serious, you could contact the community garda - many stations now have a community liaison guard."
Paul Murray, communications manager, Age Action Ireland, says: "We hold the view that you are entitled to pass on information to someone who is entitled to receive it. This means you could approach a professional like a public health nurse, GP, priest or garda with your concerns."
Things can become more complicated, he says, if someone is being cared for within a family. "There can be a history between families in a community and it would seem from our phone calls that not all communities are beacons of light and friendship.
"However, it's better to be embarrassed and maybe intrude, than realise too late that there were signals you ignored."
Janet Convery, director of Services for Older People in the east coast area health board, says: "If as a carer your physical health is suffering, you're not sleeping, becoming short and testy, feeling generally oppressed or depressed, socially isolated, tied down, anxious, these are cues you must take seriously.
"Many carers are very committed but this should not preclude looking after yourself."
While the response to a carer's SOS will vary depending on where they live, community services are improving. Traditional services such as home help and meals on wheels are now augmented by personal care assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and a palliative care team for patients with serious cancer.
In keeping with the current thrust for older people to stay at home, rather than go into a nursing home, the health services have €30 million to disperse directly to families to buy the enhanced home service they need.
"Families may receive grants or payments to buy in extra help, carers, nursing care, to pay for respite, rehabilitation, with each patient and family individually assessed according to their situation," she says.
Since the Senior Help Line was set up seven years ago it has taken calls from more than 10,000 older people, many of them, says co-ordinator Mary Nally, in desperate and despairing straits. "We aim to empower such callers and help them consider their options," she says.
"If a carer feels they are at breaking point caring 24/7, we would encourage them to confide in someone, explain to them the help that is out there, and urge them to seek it - for everyone's sake."
Helpful contacts:
Carer's Association, tel: 056-7721424 www.carersireland.com
Age Action Ireland telephone, tel: 01-4756989, www.ageaction.ie
Senior Helpline, tel: 1850 440 444, operated by 350 trained volunteers, 10am-1pm and 7-10pm daily for the cost of a local call anywhere in Ireland.