Seniors Alert Scheme Seniors Alert Scheme

(previously known as – Community Support for Older People - CSOP Scheme)

Sean McLaughlinSean McLaughlinDept. of the Environment, Dept. of the Environment,

Community & Local GovernmentCommunity & Local Government

BackgroundBackground

Established 1996 - Dept. of Social Protection

Response to Task Force on Security for the Elderly - security needs of older people not benefiting from income tax relief in respect of home intruder alarms

This initiative followed a number of attacks on older people.

Conclusions of task force

Provision of grant support to community and voluntary groups to enable local involvement in the provision and installation of monitored alarms & security equipment

Greater community involvement to support older people in their own homes

June 2002 - Scheme transferred to the newly-formed Dept. of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

March 2011 – Scheme transferred to the Dept. of the Environment, Community & Local Government

Government Policy in “Towards 2016”Government Policy in “Towards 2016”

Older person to participate to the greatest extent possible in social and civic life

Access to an income which is sufficient to sustain an acceptable standard of living

Adequate support to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible

Purpose of the Senior’s Alert Scheme

Encourage the community’s support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of it’s older members

The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups (Community Alert, Active Retirement Groups, Community Councils, Family Resource Centres etc.) – crucial aspect of the Scheme

The Seniors Alert Scheme is about…….

Keeping older persons in their own homes for as long as possible

Increasing contact between older people and their community

Providing security for the person in their own home

– in the event of a break-in, fall or accident in the home, the person can immediately send out a call for help by pressing the button on the pendant alarm around their neck or on their wrist

Main 2009 Review Recommendations

Simplify Application Processes Community-based nature of Scheme should

continue A longer term commitment by applicant groups for

engagement with the older person Consider national or regional procurement Scheme should be more widely promoted in areas

where it is currently not operating Greater dissemination of information by

monitoring service providers, national organisations and the Department would enable older people to have access to the range of services available and the associated pricing

Equipment and monitoring service providers need to be more proactive in promoting the benefits of their services to older people and to reduce their dependence on grant supported equipment sales.

2009 Review:

“The obligation on community groups to tender for equipment does not achieve value for money in the opinion of many of those consulted. Equipment is not purchased in quantities large enough to avail of discounts and thus generate savings.

The main responses from community groups suggested that the only way to achieve improved value for money and maximise the limited financial resources available is for the Department, national organisations or regional agents to procure large scale supplies of equipment and monitoring services.”

“Monitoring service provided was of a high standard”

Seniors Alert SchemeSeniors Alert Scheme

March 2010 (recommended in 2009 review)(recommended in 2009 review)

Equipment available:

Monitored Personal Alarms – up to €250 Re-installations – up to €50 Replacement/Additional pendants – up to €50

Department wants to do more

Process for obtaining an alarm through the SAS

Community & Voluntary groups go out to older people in their area & advise then of the availability of personal monitored alarms

Or

Members of the public will contact Community & Voluntary groups/the Department in relation to the Scheme

From September 2015, Pobal will operate the Scheme on behalf of the Department

Expenditure 2004 – 2014

Year Funding Groups Beneficiaries *

2004 €2,162,330 355 6,424

2005 €2,287,798 445 6,796

2006 €2,038,074 399 6,957

2007 €3,708,019 464 10,764

2008 €4,312,014 522 11,762

2009** €2,096,030 424 6,390

2010 €1,947,820 445 6,306

2011 €2,473,242 422 7,910

2012 €2,524,448 498 9,142

2013 €2,321,251 571 10,597

2014 €1,705,762 538 7,120

*The number of beneficiaries includes estimates for 2004 and 2005** The Scheme was suspended for six months in 2009 pending completion of the 2009 review

2015 Budget €2.35million

Seniors Alert Scheme Seniors Alert Scheme 2014-20152014-2015

Significant national coverage – but major gaps remain Significant national coverage – but major gaps remain

Scheme supporting independent living at a fraction of Scheme supporting independent living at a fraction of the cost of hospital/residential home carethe cost of hospital/residential home care

We want to do more, but caught up with bureaucracy:We want to do more, but caught up with bureaucracy:

Groups getting tenders on a six-monthly basis, Groups getting tenders on a six-monthly basis, reporting to the Department on administration etc.reporting to the Department on administration etc.

Seniors Alert Scheme 2014-2015

Solution:

Out-source Admin to Pobal (who manage several programmes for Government on behalf of a number of Departments/Agencies)

Centralise Equipment Purchase

Provide for Monitoring Panel (optional)

Leave Community Groups to concentrate on main aims and objectives of the Scheme

Pobal

Pobal is an independent, not-for profit organisation that manages programmes on behalf of a number of Government Departments and the E.U.

In existence since 1993 (formerly ADM)

Track record in social inclusion work Long history of successfully

delivering programmes for this Department

Pobal Admin – Some of the Benefits

Pobal are offering to deliver SAS on-line with a range of supports available for those who have access and other issues

Funding management and accounting – no need for local tendering/financial reporting

Customer care and supports

Technical assistance and supports

Allows Dept. focus on policy and improvements/developments to the Scheme

Pobal Arrangements

Administratively light – allows groups concentrate on interaction more so than administration

Benefits of central procurement - cost savings and the ability to now install more alarms and potentially other equipment with the savings 

Need groups to be partners in managing performance of suppliers under the new arrangements

The information sessions will continue and Pobal will further develop engagement with groups around delivery of the Scheme

Department will welcome feedback - the Ministers are interested to hear about any concerns or issues that arise

Monitoring

Monitoring remains a matter for the beneficiary

A central monitoring panel (optional) will provide a level of additional choice for people, where that is now absent

Beneficiary can use any monitoring supplier as long as that supplier can monitor the equipment to be installed

No need for groups to get quotations

Conclusion

The Seniors Alert Scheme is a successful community-based programme

that promotes independent living for older people in their own homes

& by extension, adds significant benefits to communities where they live,

for small financial investment by Government

Thank YouThank You