Supports for the Care of Older People in Ireland.

“I am worried about the care of a loved one - who do I turn to for information?”

When you are faced with arranging and planning future care with a loved one, navigating the health and social care services can be very daunting and challenging. This is common and understandable, so to help you, HaloCare have summarised the key websites, people and resources to assist you while trying to navigate these first steps.

There are numerous key people and services, and it can be confusing to know where to start. The HSE provide most of the services and they have several online resources where you can find these services and supports.

Starting Point.

At Home:

Usually, this is the first point of contact to access health services in the community. Access to these services is through your loved one’s GP or Primary Care Team which includes the local Public Health Nurse and therapy services.

Discharge from Hospital:

If your loved one has been admitted to hospital, it is important to ensure you have the supports and information you require before you leave hospital. If you are aware or worried that your loved one will be at risk at home, or will require additional supports and services, this should be highlighted to a medical professional before your loved one is discharged. the hospital can then point you in the right direction to get the care you, or your loved one requires.

Public Health Nursing Services for adults and older people.

Public Health Nurses assess the holistic needs and palliative care needs of all patients in the community. They accept individuals referred from GPs and acute hospitals. You may need to satisfy eligibility conditions to use the clinical services. You may also self-refer directly to the Public Health Nurse, who will then discuss eligibility with your GP.

Supports and Services for Carers.

As someone caring for a loved one, it is important to remember that sometimes you yourself might need extra support. Caring for another person can be tough and may leave you feeling isolated and alone.

To help combat this, the HSE and voluntary providers give information, advice and support for carers in Ireland. Education and training can help the carer identify what support they might need, as well as establishing, maintaining and improving standards of care. The HSE and some of the HSE funded voluntary organisations provide this training for carers.

Carers groups have also been established across the country through Family Carers Ireland. Joining a group like this in your own area can help ease the feeling of isolation you may be experiencing, by allowing you to be around people who are in a similar situation to you.

While family carers and professional homecare do an outstanding job, they cannot be there 24/7, 365 days a year. That's where HaloCare come in. 

HaloCare.

If your loved one wishes to continue living independently within their home, but you're worried they might need extra supports, HaloCare is a solution which might work for you. By using technology that works seamlessly in the background, HaloCare customers can continue to live their normal lives with the knowledge that someone is there to support their needs.

Customers have complete peace of mind in the hours of the day when homecare or family carers cannot be there. Should an emergency occur, real-time information is sent to the Care Hub where trained specialists can react, respond, and reassure. HaloCare's intelligent devices can detect movements such as falls, even in instances where the person is unable to call out for help. The highly trained Care Specialists then verify with the older person if they need assistance and alert their Circle of Care.

If your loved one needs a little extra support while living independently, HaloCare is here 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.