IRELAND: Lack of confidence in elderly care

DUBLIN, Ireland (IrishHealth.com), March 18, 2008: Irish people are the least optimistic in Europe about their chances of receiving the appropriate level of care in old age, a new survey by the European Commission (EC) has shown. According to the findings, Irish people are also the least likely to have discussed their own possible future care needs – just 9% have considered this. The survey found that there is a widespread perception among Europeans that dependent older people are becoming victims of abuse by people who are supposed to look after them. In fact, more than half of Europeans and one-third of Irish people feel that older people are subject to abuse by relatives or professional carers. Furthermore, 43% of Irish people feel that institutions such as nursing homes provide insufficient standards of care. A further two-thirds feel that dependent older people are at risk of psychological abuse - such as verbal abuse, humiliation and a lack of dignity – or at having their personal items stolen or their money mismanaged. The EC pointed out that one of the dominant features of demographic change over the coming decades will be the increasing number of people aged 80 and older. Their numbers will increase three to four-fold, reaching 12% of the entire European population by 2050. The EC also highlighted the fact that the frail elderly are a ‘highly vulnerable group’ of people. "Each of us faces the possibility of becoming dependent on the help of others when we get older and currently we cannot be sure that we will be treated with dignity," said EU Social Affairs Commissioner, Vladimír Špidla. However he added that EU member states ‘are starting to support carers and relatives’ through training and guidance. “They have also started to protect the elderly by creating support groups and telephone hotlines and are creating transparent and patient-oriented monitoring systems for the quality of long-term care. I welcome this and at the same time, much more needs to be done all across Europe”, Mr Spidla added. By Deborah Condon Copyright © 2008 Irish Health.com