€2 billion in savings could be made with changes to Homecare and Home Help services

Up to 8,600 jobs could be created and €2 billion saved through reform of the home care sector, according to a new report from Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI).

The research shows that €117 million per annum could be saved immediately through opening up the tendering of home help and home care services in Ireland. A further €256 million per annum could be saved if funds are redirected from the Fair Deal Scheme to more appropriate care provision for low and medium dependency older people in their own homes. 

The report, The Business Case for the Outsourcing of Home Care Provision and a More Efficient Use of Fair Deal Funds, compiled by EPS Consulting for HCCI, the representative body of private home care providers in Ireland, outlines the need to address inefficiencies in the elder care model as a matter of urgency.
Key findings of the report:

• Cumulative savings of €2 billion  could be achieved over the next 8 years to 2021 in line with phased outsourcing and an end to the ring-fencing of one type of care over another;
• The current cost of HSE / not for profit delivered home help services is 30 per cent more expensive than private sector rates;
• Savings of €117 million per annum could be achieved if all home help and home care package provision was outsourced;
• An additional €256 million per annum could result if 30 per cent of current patients with low to medium dependency under the Fair Deal Scheme (deemed potentially suitable for homecare but currently occupying more expensive residential places) were provided with intensive care at home;
• More people are going to need support as our elderly population increases. Between now and 2021 the number of people over 65 is set to rise to nearly 800,000– a 40 per cent increase on 2006 levels.

Michael Harty, HCCI Co-Chair, said, “Harnessing the outsourcing opportunity could support the creation of up to 8,600 jobs in the home care sector, as more patients will require care and more hours will be able to be delivered within the existing budget. These are local jobs that will be in every parish and community across Ireland, providing employment in many areas experiencing serious unemployment issues.”

Harty continued, “A stated aim of the Minister for Health James Reilly and the HSE is to move care back into the community, yet present policy and funding do not reflect this. The current system of providing home care services to older people and disabled is unsustainable and has already reached a level that the Exchequer cannot afford.

“The Government needs to stop paying lip service and take action to address inefficiencies in the system, through a more open and transparent commissioning system which will help save money, create jobs, and stop the cuts to frontline services enabling thousands of people to be cared for in their own home.

“The money saved from competitive tendering could and should go toward providing more home care to those who need it most. Our proposal could generate an additional 18 million hours each year of home help within the existing budget. As budgets are being cut everywhere, the Government cannot afford to ignore making the changes needed in the home care sector.”

FRS Homecare is a  member of Home and Community Care Ireland HCCI

FRS Homecare announces ICA affinity scheme

Pictured Left to Right: Anne Maria Dennison, ICA President and Colin Donnery, FRS Homecare Manager at Launch of the ICA Affinity Card

FRS Homecare are delighted to announce an affinity scheme for all ICA members. The scheme will see all ICA membership cards branded with FRS homecare on the back of the card and a discount of Homecare services to ICA members of 10%.

Commenting FRS Homecare General Manager Colin Donnery said “ We are delighted to be associated with an established and respected brand like the ICA. The affinity scheme is not just about the discount for Homecare Services , we are also interested in employing ICA members as carers and offering them Healthcare training.”

Click here to download brochure

Visit FRS at the Women & Agriculture Conference 2011

Tues 25th of October, Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny

Chat to us during the Women & Agriculture Conference about your farming and homecare needs.
Find out about the range of services FRS can provide.
Complete our online survey for your chance to win a break away while FRS Farm Services look after the farm and FRS Homecare look after any elderly dependent.

The Prize includes a 2 nights B&B break in a 4* Hotel for 2, plus €250 FRS Farm Services voucher and/or €250 FRS Homecare voucher to use while you are on your break. Leave work behind. You deserve it!
THIS OFFER IS NOW CLOSED

Terms & conditions apply. Contact marketing@frsnetwork.com for more details.

WOMEN & AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE 2011 PROGRAMME

8.30am Opening - & chance to chat with FRS and to do our survey to win a break away
9.00am Registration - & chance to chat with FRS and to do our survey to win a break away

Session 1:
FARMING – THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
10.00am Over the next five years, farming families will face many new challenges; the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; changes in the Single Farm Payment; the end of milk quotas and what’s needed to meet the ambitious targets set out by Harvest 2020.
Our panel of experts will examine these important issues so you and your family are better prepared to face what’s ahead.
Speakers:
Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods
Aidan Cotter, CEO of Bord Bia,
Pat Smith, General Secretary, Irish Farmers Association
Matt Dempsey, Editor and MD of the Irish Farmers Journal

11.15am Break – & a chance to chat with FRS and to do our survey to win a break away

11.30am Farming, Food and Tourism - Stronger Together!
Speaker: Margaret Jeffares, MD of Good Food Ireland
11.50am Farm Family Finance – Forewarned is Forearmed.
Your questions answered and key financial advice from our panel.
Speakers:
Peter Young, Irish Country Living’s Money Mentor
Declan McEvoy, Senior Tax Planning Consultant with IFAC Accountants
12.40pm Fun and Frolics with our Surprise Act!!!

1.00pm Lunch & another chance to chat with FRS and to do our survey to win a break away

SESSION 2
TIME FOR YOU
2.30pm Cooking with Neven.
2.50pm Women & Agriculture Awards.
3.30pm Your Health in your Hands. Food and fitness advice from top nutritionist Paula Mee.
4.10pm Taking Adversity in your Stride. Motivational speaker Caroline Casey will inspire you with her success story of looking at life through a different lens.

5.00pm Close & your final opportunity to come and chat with FRS and to do our survey to win a break away

Click on this link for more information on the Women in Agriculture Conference and to book your place.
http://www.irishcountryliving.ie/womenandag11/

‘Escape with the Relief & Care of FRS’

Take our 10 minute survey on farm services and homecare in Ireland for your chance to win a break away for two while FRS Farm Services looks after the farm and FRS Homecare looks after any elderly dependent.
The Prize includes a 2 nights B&B break in a 4* Hotel for 2, plus €250 FRS Farm Services voucher and/or €250 FRS Homecare voucher to use while you are on your break. Leave work behind. You deserve it!

THIS OFFER IS NOW CLOSED

Possible Pension Cuts in Budget 2011

Earlier this month Brian Lenihan announced that he would meet with each member of the cabinet within the coming weeks to discuss the necessary cuts to expenditure which were outlined by An Board Snip and advocated by the EU. These cuts will result in €2 billion being cut from current spending and €1 billion from capital spending. Following the rejection of the Croke Park agreement these cuts are likely to come from the Departments of Education, Health and Social Welfare (Social Protection), and have caused much speculation.

Minister for Social Protection, Eamon O’Cuiv has come under much scrutiny from where the possible cuts will come from within his portfolio, which covers social welfare payments, Child Benefit and Pensions.

Pensions have arisen as the first of the contentious issues, with the minister stating that he would not rule out across the board cuts of the Pension which currently stands at a standard rate of €219 per week. He did however claim he would examine the pension payments to those whom are still in full time employment; there has also been speculation that a means test will be introduced to ensure that those in need of state assistance are not to be penalised.

Minister O’Cuiv stated that no decisions have been made at present as to where the cuts will come from within his €22 billion portfolio but that he would focus on fraudulent claims as a way of cutting back costs.

Minister O’Cuiv also hinted at what was to come in relation to social welfare payments stating that he was also concerned for the younger generations whom have children to care for and have found themselves without employment. The minster stated to look at those whom are best placed to carry the burden irrespective of age.

Proposed Pension cuts have been a controversial issue with 15,000 people marching on the Dail for the last proposed cut in the entitlements, when in 2008 the Dail proposed the introduction of a mean tested medical card for the elderly which was subsequently rejected.

　

HSE Propose New Carer Time Blocks

The HSE have announced plans to introduce guidelines which will give Carers time blocks in which to complete tasks such as showering and waking a client. These guidelines which will form part of the HSE’s proposed cut backs are aimed at helping ensure that the HSE continues to operate within its ever tightening budget restraints.

Carers will see their hours reduced from 11 to 7.5 a week and will no longer be able to provide help with cleaning and general assistance with household duties. The daily routine of a carer will now be broken in to defined time blocks with the morning routine being broken into; ten minutes to get patient up out of bed, fifteen minutes to assist showering, ten minutes for breakfast and five to change a bed, with no additional time being allocated for patients in need of additional care.

Many carers have questioned the wisdom of such cut backs stating that it will in fact add to costs in the long term with more people who are dependant on care hours forced to enter full time care facilities.

The HSE have stated that they will spend €11.98 million providing home help this year, which will provide assistance for 54,000 people.

National Positive Ageing Strategy

A series of meetings are currently being held throughout the country as part of Minster Aine O’Brady’s work to develop the National Positive Ageing Strategy.
These meetings will join organisations, agencies and individuals representing older citizens in talks for the first time with the Government. These groups will have the opportunity to discuss future government policy relating to our aging population in the aim of tackling ageism and boosting social inclusion.
At first of these meetings which has already taken place in Cork on the 4th of March, Minister O’Brady spoke about viewing an ageing population in a positive way and opportunities and challenges it offers; "The expected increase in the numbers of older people in the population in the years ahead will present great opportunities for Irish society .There will be more older people in Ireland in the future and we must take a much more positive view and grasp the many opportunities that the increase in the numbers of people aged 65 and over will present to us as a society".
The minister added that she her call for submissions from the participating groups had been very successful, with 168 submissions being received so far. The minister also highlighted her desire to hear directly from Older people themselves, to discuss the issues that they are affected by on a day to day basis.
Minister O’Brady outlined both her aims and targets for the meetings and strategy: "We want to have the best possible arrangements in place for older people. The challenge is to find ways of organising and delivering programmes and services that make them more accessible to people. But I also believe that attitudes towards older people and perceptions of ageing are also of importance. Ageism is an issue for all older people and we must work to tackle ageism as a priority."
The meetings will be taking p lace throughout Ireland in March and April, with other venues including Sligo, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, Louth and Wexford. For more information about the above locations visit the Department of Health and Children website: http://www.dohc.ie/ .