Home Help Cuts

The Government have announced cuts of €750 million to HSE funding and cuts of 4.5% to Home Help hours. Carolyn Akintola and Elsie Kellaghan receive a total of 6 hours Home Help per week from the HSE and The Carers Association. Watch this footage from the RTÉ Nine O’Clock news (18th January) where they describe what impact any cuts to Home Help hours would have on their lives. See below how you can send a message that these cuts are a backwards move.

1)    Step one: Sign Our Petition

If you haven’t done so already please take the time to sign our petition to support the right to age well at home

2)    Step two: Contact your local TDs

We’re asking you write, phone or email your local TDs with the message that cuts to community services for older people are a backward step

• Let decision makers know that the Home Help service is already thinly spread and that with promised cuts to these services of 4.5% it will now be on life support.
• Let them know your concerns about cuts to respite services which are vital to family carers who are the backbone of our community services.
• Tell decision makers that it does not make sense on a human level to cut vital community services. 
• Tell them that it does not make sense on an economic level to cut vital community services because people will spend more time in acute hospitals; and will move to nursing homes too soon. Both will cost more in the long run.
• Ask your TDs to carry this message onto the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly TD or to their Health spokesperson.

  Download a list of contact details for your local TDs here (word document)

3)    Step three: share this page with interested friends or family

If you would like support or suggestions on the most effective and appropriate ways to lobby your political representative, please contact Older & Bolder on 01-8783623 or email info@olderandbolder.ie