Today's announcement is hoping that 'home care will be available to older people for the hours they require it – not just for the hours that there is a budget for.”

ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, is welcoming  today's announcement that social supports and access to essential services will be available for people being cared for in their homes.

The report examines the major issues challenging older people’s homecare support. It received over 2,600 responses from individuals and stakeholder-organisations. The Minister said that the development of a new statutory home care scheme and system of regulation was a “key priority” for Government.

Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said: “Organisations such as Family Carers Ireland and many others, including ALONE, have been campaigning for the right to home care for more than 20 years. We are delighted to hear that the Minister has taken this on board and will commit to developing a new scheme for statutory home care. The right to home care would ensure that everyone who is prescribed home care will receive the hours they require. We hope that moving forward, home care will be available to older people for the hours they require it – not just for the hours that there is a budget for.”

Mr Moynihan said:“As support coordination is a major part of ALONE’s day-to-day work, we particularly appreciate the report’s recognition of the need to co-ordinate services provided in the home and community, and the need to closely integrate home care and housing policy. ALONE is delighted to be actively engaging with the Department of Health and Minister Daly, to ensure that supports such as social supports and access to essential services are in place to support older people to age at home. We look forward to building on the results of today’s report with fellow stakeholder groups, community-care professionals and particularly older people and their families.”

For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032 or at www.alone.ie. The charity, which depends on donations from the public, has staff and volunteers ready to act on calls and requests for assistance.