138 adults waiting for overnight respite care in Cork with most waiting more than a year

There are 138 adults in Cork who are waiting for overnight respite, with more than three quarters of them waiting more than a year.

HSE South West Disability Services provides funding to agencies to provide residential respite care so that family carers supporting individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, age-related conditions, or life-limiting illnesses can have a break from caring.

HSE South West Disability Services confirmed that there are 138 adults on the waiting list for overnight respite in Cork, with 103 of these on the waiting list for more than 12 months.

The figures were provided to Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, who told The Echo “much more” needed to be done for carers.

“A bare minimum of action should be ensuring that carers get the respite they need. Respite can be a way of recharging, allowing for events, for ensuring that carers can keep going. It is a concern to see some 138 adults on the waiting list for respite, but particularly concerning to see that some 103 are on a waiting list for more than 12 months. Nobody should be waiting longer than 12 months for respite, given how badly and urgently needed it is.”

He added that he knows from constituents “that demand is increasing all the time — the services seem to be struggling to keep pace with demand, despite the best efforts of the excellent staff of the services.

“It is vital that the government and HSE invests in this, and does not let carers burn out, by forcing them to wait more than a year for desperately needed respite.”

A HSE spokesperson told Mr Ó Laoghaire: “It is important to note that clients are matched against the next most suitable bed as it arises so the list is not accessed in a strict chronological order. HSE South West Disability Services is acutely aware of the demand for respite services and, on receipt of very welcome funding, has significantly invested in respite services in recent years.

“HSE South West continue to work with service providers and families to develop additional respite services and continue to support as many people as possible within the allocated quantum of funding available. On receipt of further funding HSE South West will develop further respite services to meet the needs and locations for all people who require respite support.”