There's a call for progress on a Commission on Care to look at new ways of organising care for older people.
Sage Advocacy is making the call for an integrated system for long-term care covering nursing homes and respite care.
It's reacting to the Irish Mail on Sunday's report showing private nursing homes are asking elderly people and their families for 'extra' fees.
Sage Advocacy CEO Mervyn Taylor said that in a recent review of cases the charity found growing levels of debt related to charges for services in private nursing homes, with some residents being charged over long periods of time for items that could have been purchased at a fraction of the charges.
“One resident was charged for gloves to stop them removing their incontinence wear. In another case a resident was faced with notice to quit because their family was unable to pay increased charges. We have also heard that some nursing home residents are being charged for religious services".
Mr Taylor welcomed a commitment made today by the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler to a develop a new policy on additional charges, and also her comment that the State should be the main provider of long-term care.
Mr. Taylor called on Government to act fully on its promise of a Commission on Care and get this work into operation, after Minster Butler said work on the Commission was underway.
“This government has less than 24 months to act on this promise. The ‘dangerous architecture’ on which the current system of care in congregated settings for older people is built, was shown to hold major flaws during Covid-19 and must be reformed.”
