Niamh Smyth TD 2.jpg

Home care package removed from terminally ill OAP, claims TD

A terminally ill Cavan man is unable to be discharged from Lisdarn as his home help has been removed, according to a local TD.

Deputy Niamh Smyth gave a number of distressing examples of elderly people deprived of the chance to return home due to a shortfall in the provision across the constituency. The Fianna Fáil TD urged the Tánaiste to ask his Minister for Health to increase funding for home care packages to address.

“I know of a terminally ill man who has had cancer for the past five years," said the TD for Cavan-Monaghan. “During those five years, his home help was removed. Not only that, he now lies very ill in Lisdarn unit for the elderly in Cavan with no home help available to enable him to go home.

“I know of a 99-year-old terminally ill woman in County Monaghan who is awaiting home help. I also know an 86-year-old woman who had a very serious stroke last August who has been granted home help but has no home help available to her. 

“I understand the HSE has restricted home help hours in Cavan-Monaghan. This is an urgent matter but is not being treated as one by government. We should be encouraging people to grow old in their homes. Without an increase in home care packages this is not possible,” concluded Deputy Smyth.