Shock funding cut may close Alzheimer"s centre

Navan"s Alzheimer"s Day Care Centre could be forced to close this year following a threat by the HSE to cut funding to the centre by 20 to 30 per cent. The Alzheimers Society and staff have been told by the HSE that they could be facing a cut in funding of up to 30 per cent, which the society warns would mean the possible closure of the facility. The threat to the centre would devastate the many families who have loved ones cared for in the day centre, many of whom say they will not be able to cope if the centre closes. Some 50 clients in total avail of the service and the centre provides care for, on average 18 clients per day, and is open six days per week. Gerry Leech, treasurer of the Meath branch of the Alzheimer"s Society, said that the facility was currently run on a shoestring. He said they depended greatly on fundraising and donations from the community, local businesses and organisations and the many volunteers who work at the centre, and the proposed cutback by the HSE would be highly detrimental. 'Voluntary fundraising is proving more and more difficult since the downturn in the economy,' he said. Despite raising €95,000 last year through donations and other fundraisers, they suffered a deficit for the first time ever. 'We cannot contemplate a cut in funding from the HSE and we may have to close. We don"t want to alarm people, especially as they are already under serious pressure, but we have to let people know what is happening,' he said. The premises itself is owned by Tara Mines. Gerry Hickey, whose wife, Carmel, attends the centre three to four days a week, said he couldn"t carry on if the centre closes. He lives alone with his wife and although he receives great help from his daughters and his wife"s sisters, he fears Carmel would have to go into full-time care if the centre closes. Carmel is only 63 and therefore does not qualify for many of the benefits that someone over 65 can avail of. 'I look after her because she is my wife and I will continue to do it for as long as I can, but I need back-up and the centre is my back-up,' he said. 'When I heard this, I was so shocked. This would be a major disaster for us,' Mr Hickey added. Larry Quinn, whose mother attends the centre six days a week, said the centre takes enormous strain off his family and his sister, who is the main carer for his mother. 'It will be a devastating blow to us if the centre closes or hours are cut back. It is difficult looking after somebody with Alzheimer"s Disease and the day centre is a critical part of the care my mother receives,' he said. 'The centre enables us to keep her at home. We don"t know how we would manage if it closes,' he went on. Cllr Brian Curran, chairman of Meath Care Committee, said it would be an absolute disgrace if the facility was forced to close due to HSE cuts. 'We are talking about the most vulnerable people in the county being put under threat,' he said. Deputy Shane McEntee said that under no circumstances should the HSE allow the centre to close. 'I am calling on everybody involved to ensure that they get adequate funding and the facility, which is invaluable to so many people, can be kept open.' Cllr Joe Reilly said he was disgusted to learn of the proposed cuts and warned that the most vulnerable in society would be directly impacted. Cllr Tommy Reilly described the proposal as an 'absolute disaster' and he said he had been in contact with the HSE"s director of services to express his opposition to the cuts. Local election candidate Anton McCabe said that it only cost the HSE €3,600 per year to fund somebody attending the centre, which was just a pittance in comparison to what they would have to pay if the patient went into residential care. Mr McCabe said he is trying to set up an action group in Navan to fight the cuts. Independent Navan candidate Francis Deane said he, too, was most concerned at the HSE"s proposals to cut funding to the centre and said it would have a devastating effect on patients and their families. Deputy Damien English said the centre received a limited budget of €144,000 from the HSE. 'The cost to society of making cutbacks in the money they make available will be more than lost in the value of having the Alzheimer"s Society serve the patients in County Meath and beyond,' he added, appealing to the HSE to maintain the support grant it allocates to the centre.