Case of young man living in nursing home raised in Dáil

The detrimental impact that being inappropriately placed in nursing homes is having on young people with disabilities, including Athboy man Andrew Smith, was raised in the Dáil by Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke last week.

In recent weeks, Andrew bravely shared his story with the Meath Chronicle to draw attention to situation hundreds of young people like him have found themselves in where they had no choice but to go into nursing home care due to lack of funding for assisted living homes in the community.

Andrew, who was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia at the age of 17, requires specialised care due to the degenerative nature of his condition. Unfortunately, after the passing of his father, who was his sole caregiver, Andrew was left with limited options. Despite the efforts of his brothers to take on the caregiving role, personal and financial constraints made it unsustainable. As a result, the HSE Meath Disability department determined that the only viable solution was to place Andrew in a nursing home.

Nursing homes for the elderly are ill-equipped to provide the necessary physical, emotional, social, and community support required by younger individuals.

Deputy Guirke is appealing to the government to address this urgent issue and expedite Andrew's application, which has been with the HSE for the past six months, to secure funding for a more appropriate community setting.

He emphasised the need for a ring-fenced annual budget to be allocated to each Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) Area, enabling improved quality of life for individuals like Andrew and assisting them in leaving nursing homes if they so desire, and facilitating their entry into more suitable living arrangements.

Deputy Guirke further urged the government establish a sustainable funding model for section 39 organisations that provide vital core services for people with disabilities on behalf of the HSE, enabling them to live meaningful lives in their communities.

Meanwhile, Andrew's brother Darren told that since the Meath Chronicle highlighted Andrew's case, they had a visit from Meath Disability Services and were told that Andrew is next on the list for funding but more than likely the funding would not be available until 2024.

"We have no written contact from the HSE yet but we have had a verbal conversation with Meath Disability that he is on the list for funding," said Darren who is hopeful that the funding will be release early in the new year to enable Andrew take up a place that was available in an assisted living home in his home town of Athboy.

Darren said his brother had got lots of messages of support since sharing his story and is delighted that things seem to be moving at last.

"He is in good form, and is delighted that things are moving. He was very appreciative of the article in the Meath Chronicle and Johnny Guirke's office reaching out, and it seems that something good has come out of it and he hopes that other people like him san benefit from it as well," said Darren.