Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, and Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Waterford TD Mary Butler, have announced a €10 million nationwide upgrade programme for older persons Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services.
This scheme will be available to support around 400 Section 39 Health Service Executive (HSE) funded community organisations across the country by providing extra financial support of up to €25,000 per organisation.
Such service providers in Waterford include:
Assissi House Day Centre -Waterford City
Lady Lane Day Centre- Waterford City
Dr. Martins Day Centre- Portlaw
Kilmacthomas Day Centre
Deise Day Centre/Meals on Wheels - Dungarvan
Cappoquin Day Centre
Tramore Community Care Meals On Wheels
The funding is designed to support improvements to the physical premises for Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services. It can be used to upgrade kitchens and other facilities, and to purchase equipment.
Minister Butler, said:
“I am a great advocate for the triangle of supports in the community, made up of Home Care, Day Care and Meals on Wheels, supporting Older People to age well in their own homes. We must prioritise helping people who need care in the home to live full lives. We know that isolation and loneliness can be a challenge for many older people, especially those living in rural communities. Meals on Wheels can often be the only personal contact that an older person has during the day.
“The social benefits both to the person themselves and the wider community is clear, with the service proving itself to be an important resource through the years, in many rural communities, in particular.
“The funding being announced today will help ensure that Meals on Wheels locations and Day Centres can operate in compliance with health and safety standards. I would also like to encourage Day Centres to consider expanding their provision to include Meals on Wheels as this funding can be used towards upgrading or purchasing vehicles for the delivery of meals or for transport for older people to access community services. We are expecting to provide close to three million meals nationwide this year, and I would love to see that expanded even further.”
Funding will be administered through the HSE Regional Health Areas (RHAs) and will be open to all HSE funded day care and Meals on Wheels services that currently have a Service Level Agreement (SLA) or are currently engaging with the HSE to provide such services.
Further details on this grant funding and application process will be communicated directly to services in the coming weeks.
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