Government urged to act promptly to implement report recommendations on professional care sector
Age Action has warmly welcomed today’s publication by the Law Reform Commission of a report which sets out draft leglislation for the regulation of professional carers and home helps.
“The fact that we tens of thousands of older people being visited in their homes every day by professional carers who are not required by the State to have a minimum level of training, supervision or even Garda vetting is an issue of huge concern to everyone who has the care of vulnerable people at heart,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said. “We have campaigned for regulation of this sector for years and urge the Government to act promptly on the recommendations of today’s report.
” The cases of abuse and substandard care which have occurred as a result of the current lack of regulation in this area are well known to those working in the sector, with some coming before the courts and others being highlighted by the media. With a growing older population the State needs to act urgently to protect and give peace of mind to vulnerable users of home care services.
“The Law Reform Commission’s report must not be left lying on a shelf, but must be acted upon as a matter of urgency,” Mr Timmins said. “The failure of successive government’s to address this issue is not acceptable and the current administration now has an ideal opportunity to act.
” The Law Reform Commission’s report Legal Aspects of Professional Home Care recommends that standards be agreed, that carer providers be responsible for supervising their staff, and that the Health Information and Quality Authority be given legal responsibility for inspecting the sector.
Age Action welcomes the report’s broad definition of home help services, which are required to enable an adult person to continue to live independently in their own home. These range from companionship needs (such as preparing snacks, arranging appointments and organising visits to neighbours and friends), to home care (eg meal preparation, light housekeeping and personal hygiene), up to advanced home care (to include dementia care, assistance with toileting and palliative care).
The national charity for older people also welcomes the recommended guiding principles of the proposed legislative framework which include independent living, privacy and dignity, quality of care, and the protection of those in receipt of professional home care.
