Mary Butler T.D.
The Minister for Mental Health and Older Persons
The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme supports older people to remain in their homes where possible, prevents unnecessary hospital admissions and avoids early admission to residential care.
As the Minister for Mental Health and Older People and the daughter of an older but independent mother in her 80s, I am proud to have supported the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme from its pilot phase in 2021. This programme is a demonstration of this Government’s commitment to providing comprehensive care for older people.
Comprehensive support for older people
In 2019, Ireland was the first country to receive Age Friendly status by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is a testament to the social care model provided in Ireland to support older people. The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, funded by Sláintecare in my Department, supplements this approach and was recognised again by the WHO as a best practice example of integrated care for older people. It positively impacts their health status, quality of life and functional ability.
We aim to enable older people to age well at home. The voices and choices of older people must be recognised, and the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme is a key initiative under our Sláintecare reform programme to help us achieve this.
This Government’s investment in older
persons services has seen a 30%
increase in funding since 2020.
Investment in health and social care
This Government’s investment in older persons services has seen a 30% increase in funding since 2020, reaching over €2.6 billion in 2024. This year, over 320 day centres are operating across the country, plus 53 dementia-specific day centres. Additionally, over 22 million hours of home support will be provided, and 3 million Meals On Wheels (MoW) will be delivered. MoW is more than a nutritious meal; it’s a social connection, knowing that someone will call to your home.
My department is implementing health reforms to ensure safe, timely and efficient care for everyone. We have established six HSE Health Regions to provide health and social care services. Despite progress made, challenges lie ahead. We are exploring new models of care and the principles of universal design for infrastructural development. The Healthy Age Friendly Homes programme is a strategic response.
I am grateful to all contributors to this programme, including the older people who participated in the pilot. I am pleased the programme is moving forward nationwide at pace. The success of the programme lies with the coordinators who devise and manage a support package for each person referred to the scheme — a person-centred approach.
All older people considering the programme can contact the team at [email protected] or their local authority.
