Sir, - My mother, who lives in Copenhagen, has suffered several brain haemorrhages in the past year. Her short-term memory is badly damaged and she no longer walks very well. She was assessed as being in need of a nursing home place and was offered one within weeks. However, she did not wish to leave her own home and the local authority therefore provided her with six visits a day from its home care team, which looked after everything from cleaning and shopping to her personal care. A main meal was also provided each day.
Last summer even this level of care proved insufficient and she agreed to move into a nursing home. She has her own room and bathroom with her own furniture, pictures on the wall, curtains and hi-fi system. The nursing home offers several activities each day, including visits to the cinema, games, baking, folk dancing and exercise. My mother participates by choice in most of them.
Her physical and mental condition has improved since she moved into the home. The staff are patient, never patronising, and always with the residents, even when on their breaks. Staff and residents have their meals together and there is a pleasant and homely atmosphere. There are no unpleasant smells when one visits. When my mother moved into the home she was asked how she wished to be addressed, and what her normal daily routine had been, and my brother and I were asked to write a history of her life and describe her habits and interests.
This high level of service costs money - and lots of it. Residents are mean-tested and pay for their care up to a certain maximum. The shortfall is financed by the high level of taxation in Denmark.
Care for the elderly is costly and needs to be closely monitored by the State to ensure that proper care is provided. It is a service that is too important and costly to be left to private operators. - Yours, etc.,
Kirsten Hove, Watson Drive, Killiney, Co Dublin.