Seniors Alert Scheme Sean McLaughlin Dept. of the Environment, Community & Local Government Seniors Alert Scheme ( previously known as – Community Support for Older People - CSOP Scheme) Sean McLaughlin Dept. of the Environment, Community & Local Government

Background  Established 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 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”  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 Scheme March 2010 (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 YearFundingGroupsBeneficiaries * 2004€2,162, , €2,287, , €2,038, , €3,708, , €4,312, , **€2,096, , €1,947, , €2,473, , €2,524, , €2,321, , €1,705, ,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  Significant national coverage – but major gaps remain  Scheme supporting independent living at a fraction of the cost of hospital/residential home care  We want to do more, but caught up with bureaucracy:  Groups getting tenders on a six-monthly basis, reporting to the Department on administration etc.

Seniors Alert Scheme  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 You