More elderly people could stay at home rather than being forced into costly nursing homes if a greater level of daycare was available, according to a study published yesterday.
The report, by the National Council of Ageing and Older People, said that day services, such as those providing nursing and personal assistance, were hugely beneficial to senior citizens and their families.
However, the council's director, Mr Bob Carroll, said the option of long-term residential care was often forced on older people because of the lack of basic assistance.
"Older people want to stay in the community, they don't want to be shunted away because of a lack of basic services. Sometimes it can be a very small thing. An older bachelor living alone, for instance, might develop something and ends up in residential care for want of a little bit of care," Mr Carroll said.
Among the key findings of the report were:
A lack of daycare facilities, such as centres or social clubs, together with long waiting lists for places at existing centres.
Serious difficulties providing essential services, such as physiotherapy, and understaffing at existing centres.
A sense among older people that day centres allowed them the chance to enjoy the company of other older people, and gave them a feeling of purpose and the opportunity to develop new friendships.
Concern that some daycare centres may not be suitable for some categories of older people with dementia, physical disabilities, and those who do not require a high level of support.
Shortcomings in providing services for family carers, especially carers with a major burden whose relations suffer from conditions such as dementia.
Mr Carroll said it may be necessary to introduce legislation to ensure that older people were automatically given the right to services which met their needs.
The Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Mr Ivor Callely, said the Government acknowledged the contribution of older people to society, and the report would help inform his Department's approach to developing day services.
"I am glad to say that the cornerstone of policy in relation to the care of older people is care in the community, with the overall aim being to support older people in dignity to live in their own community for as long as possible. Nowadays, older people are living longer and healthier lives, and those lives should have purpose and meaning," he said.
There was a positive acceptance among the general community that older people had been instrumental in building and strengthening this State, he said.
The council's report was based on a series of interviews with 180 respondents, including older people, their carers and public health nurses. Its aim was to find out what older people themselves wanted from the various types of daycare services available.
