Elderly 'too embarrassed' to ask for personal-care home help, says Cork councillor

A Cork city councillor has asked the HSE to review the provision of home-help hours, because some people are missing out on support due to embarrassment at being assisted with personal care.

Fianna Fáil councillor Margaret McDonnell said at the HSE Regional Health Forum last week: “This came up a lot on the doors when canvassing. People are just too embarrassed to accept personal care from strangers.”

She asked the HSE to review the situation so that a person applying for home-help hours could avail of light house work or food preparation, instead of personal care.

“In a lot of cases, elderly people are not taking up on these hours as they are uncomfortable with non-family members providing personal care, but would really appreciate help in other areas,” she said.

HSE representatives outlined the difficulties in recruiting home help, stating that their priority is the provision of basic personal care to those who live alone and don’t have family members to assist them.

Julie O’Neill, chief officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, said: “As the population aged over 65 continues to grow, the demand for new home-care supports is increasing and as those already in receipt of services become more dependent, demand for additional supports for existing clients is also increasing. 

"No means test is applied and clients are currently not required to pay any charge or contribution towards the HSE-funded Home Support Service.

Ms O’Neill said: “Following assessment, the nursing care plan outlines the needs of the client, and it is this which determines what service each client receives within the limits of the staff resources available.

“Our service delivery guidelines are centered on assisting clients with everyday personal-care tasks. Home support is not intended, nor would it be possible within resources available, to replace informal care arrangements, but rather the intent is to support valuable informal care arrangements.”

She said: “Given the increasing demand for personal-care assistance and the recruitment challenges we are dealing with on an ongoing basis, the HSE’s Home Support service’s goal is to try and reduce our waiting lists, so that as many people as possible needing personal-care support can access our services, within available capacity. 

"If a client declines prescribed support with personal-care tasks, then we are obliged to ensure that it is allocated to another client.”