Election 2024: Housing and health among key issues for older voters
Homecare Are Older Issue Gaps In A Election Services For Key Many Voters
Gaps in homecare services are a key issue for many older voters and their families, with no sign yet of a long-promised new approach to funding this critical area.
It is just one of the urgent issues which affect the 'grey vote', with tackling loneliness another promise that is popping up in all party election manifestos.
Statutory homecare funding would mean financial supports, in a similar approach to the nursing home Fair Deal scheme.
First promised in 2017, the slow pace of reforms was described to this newspaper more than two years ago by TV presenter and former member of the Sláintecare advisory panel Brendan Courtney as “shameful”.
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Regulation would also bring clearer oversight, such as through the standards which are out to public consultation through the Hiqa website now.
Fianna Fáil pledged to “develop a statutory homecare scheme” and increase home support hours by 1m hours every year.
Fine Gael committed to expanding all options for older people, including homecare, independent living options, and nursing homes.
Sinn Féin committed to a “home first” approach and a statutory home care scheme. The party would also invest in day services, with plans also to tackle loneliness and isolation.
The Green Party would create an equity release scheme for retrofitting, so older people can live in warmer homes without large investments.
Labour would legislate for a statutory right to homecare, and bring in a national strategy for age-friendly villages. The party's policies would also offer better protection to older people renting.
The Social Democrats would invest in the current homecare system and realise the statutory scheme.
Fine Gael would increase the state pension to at least €350 per week over the next government.
They would bring in a 25% increase in income thresholds for housing adaptation grants for older people.
Fianna Fáil committed to doubling the housing adaptation grant and housing aid for older people grant. They would also raise the state pension to at least €350 per week and keep retirement age at 66.
The Social Democrats pledged to link the State Pension to at least 34% of the average wage. They would increase payments from packages such as the living alone increase, fuel allowance, and household benefits package.
Labour highlighted the cost-of-living crisis and pledged to index the state contributory pension to 34% of average earnings, as well as other increases.
Fine Gael would target full staffing in the HSE’s enhanced community care programme, which includes many supports for older people.
Fianna Fáil would set up 20 new dementia-specific day-care centres. Both parties would support expansion of meals on wheels programmes.
Sinn Féin would support programmes for people with conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s. They would also support mental health services in the community for older people.
Labour pledged support for the HSE’s plans around specialist mental health services for older people.
The Social Democrats would implement the National Dementia Strategy, with extra funding for dementia services as well as for palliative care.
The Green Party would prepare local strategies to combat loneliness.
Fine Gael promised to appoint a minister of state for older people in a standalone office.
They and Fianna Fáil committed to supporting the Independent Commission on Care for Older People. This work is ongoing.
Sinn Féin said they would mandate the commission to “future-proof the model of care for ageing”. This includes investing in day services.
Fianna Fáil would expand the Care and Repair scheme nationally. This is an Age Action-run scheme in Cork, Galway, and Dublin which funds small DIY jobs for older people.
Labour would support the Men’s and Women’s Sheds and repair cafes, including with annual grant funding.
The Greens would introduce cycling training for older people and other groups.
Fine Gael would support a new community-based ‘Exercise is Medicine’ programme for the over-55s.
The Social Democrats would seek to help more older people take part in sport at a local level.