Support for adults with ageing parents
De Rossa and Flaherty asked how adults with intellectual disabilities cared for by elderly relatives would be supported, including whether vulnerable people could be identified and planned for. O’Hanlon said the review would coordinate services and pointed to respite centres, while assuring the House that dependants would be catered for.
I wish to ask the Minister a short question with regard to the plight of mentally handicapped persons whose parents are elderly. There are increasing numbers of cases where elderly parents are caring for handicapped sons and daughters. In the review that is being carried out, will the Minister ensure that specific attention is paid to that problem?
Comment on this
I accept what the Deputy says. This is not a new problem. For many years there has been difficulty in relation to the placement of the adult mentally handicapped. I am glad to say that since coming into office the voluntary organisations, which do so much in this field, have been protected against any savings in my Department.
Comment on this
My question is similar to Deputy De Rossa's. Would the Minister not accept that this is a critical area, the older mentally handicapped persons in their forties or fifties under the care of ageing relatives who have no future mapped out for them on the death of their parents? Has the Minister any plans to address this problem in a particular way? This is particularly critical because, since the mentally handicapped are living longer, this will be a growing problem. Are there any instructions to social workers——
Comment on this
Have we a register of these people? Have we any way of reaching out to them to ensure that they are not left isolated in homes following the death of their parents? Would the Minister accept that this is a critical area which deserves attention in the context of any review?
Comment on this
I accept that there is a particular problem in relation to the placing of the adult mentally handicapped. One of the functions of the review committee will be to look at all the services that are available and try to co-ordinate them so that the necessary service will be available to the mentally handicapped. I am glad to see a number of organisations already provide respite centres. Aged parents have no need to be concerned that, after their death, their adult mentally handicapped dependants will not be catered for. I am not aware of any instance in this country where a mentally handicapped person was neglected because there was nobody in the community to look after them.