Government backing called for to improve ‘wasted lives’
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABII) says it can assist people on their journey back to a home setting as well has helping them to access the services they need.
The call is in response to a number of issues raised in the Ombudsman’s Wasted Lives Report which examines the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes for older people.
Published in May, the report offered an insight into the lives of younger people in Irish nursing homes, outlining the ways in which the system is failing those who need care but for whom the nursing home environment is inappropriate and detrimental to their life experience. The HSE reported that on 30 June 2020, there were 1,320 people under 65 years of age supported by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The largest cohort of this group was living with an acquired brain injury, including as a result of stroke.
While it is not known exactly how many could be better supported outside the nursing home setting, based on past experience, ABII said it can be assumed that a significant proportion could achieve far better outcomes.
ABII said it can provide many of the solutions needed to address issues raised in the report and called for Government backing to begin a process of developing and implementing a response.
Commenting this week, ABII CEO Barbara O’Connell called for commencement of a process of engagement with the HSE and Department of Health, supported by Government, working together to address this issue. “We believe our goals and those of the Ombudsman’s report, as well as the goals of the Government and health services, are aligned in the desire to provide the best possible care. We are ready and want to be part of the solution,” said Ms O’Connell.
She added: “At ABII, more than 60 per cent of our residential rehabilitation clients have come from nursing home settings. Our outcome measurement data consistently proves that our services support and increase individual ability, adjustment and participation. This means that individuals’ level of disability decreases, and ultimately their support needs from the health system are reduced.”
ABII is confident that it can immediately and significantly improve the quality of life of younger people living in nursing homes by providing on-site rehabilitation assistant services. While the costs of providing dedicated supports may be higher at the start of this process, ABII says the restoration of independent living to individuals brings a tapering off of costs. In an audit of the impact of a case management service in the northeast region, it was found that there were net annual savings to the health service of €3.5million, while rehabilitation pathways and outcomes for people living with an acquired brain injury were improved.
In its pre-budget submission 2022, ABII highlighted the fact that with an additional €500,000 investment per annum, it could extend a case management service to every county in Ireland.
“Working in partnership with the HSE and the Department of Health, ABII can understand, plan, and deliver solutions to the many of the concerns raised in the Wasted Lives report. Today we call on the Government to sanction that a process of engagement begin, be developed and then implemented,” concluded Ms O’Connell.