The Future of Long Term Residential Care: Economic and Social Considerations

Colloquium
Sharon Walsh,  Sarah Donnelly,  Sheelah Connolly,  Maria Pierce  

This session includes four papers exploring economic and social issues pertinent to the future provision and financing of long term residential care. From an economic perspective, the first paper considers the potential to reduce demand for residential care though greater provision of care in the community and home setting. It also explores the future provision and financing of the residential care sector, looking in particular at alternative funding models, workforce planning and the potential role of the private sector. As a complement to this, the second paper presents findings from a survey of the general public in Ireland, which explores public attitudes towards, and understanding of, the long-term care sector, as well as attitudes regarding the role of family and community in the care of older people. From a social perspective, and linked to the provision of care, the third paper discusses key issues around upholding the human rights, and safeguarding of, people living with dementia in nursing homes, which includes concrete recommendations for policy and practice developed through participatory co-design. Building on this, the final paper uses the Nursing Home Support Scheme in Ireland as a case example, in order to bring together the literature on citizenship rights and dementia with that on administrative burdens, to consider the tensions surrounding a move to a rights-based approach to decision-making and the administrative burdens for those involved in seeking to both protect and uphold the rights of people with dementia and gain access to state financial supports.