Concerns expressed on 'unregulated' senior care

Seniors who use unregulated care assistance may be leaving themselves open to compensation and tax liabilities, according to Kilcullen based Home Instead Senior Care Kildare-Laois, writes Brian Byrne.

"Seniors are availing of care that is not monitored, or may be employing carers directly," says the company's MD Amanda Bohan. "This leaves them vulnerable as employers but not necessarily fulfilling employer obligations like insurance, health and safety regulations, and tax requirements."

Linda Gallagher of First Ireland insurance brokers says that in the senior care sector most claims relate to injuries caused either to the carer or the senior themselves by their moving and handling. "If the carer is not employed by a professional, insured senior care specialist company, and sustains an injury, they will be advised to sue the homeowner or whoever engaged their services," she says. "In addition, the seniors themselves will have no recourse to anybody in the event of them sustaining an injury.”

Amanda Bohan says the home care market in Ireland is currently 'completely unregulated' and if individual carers and companies providing home care services are not following good practice, this can cause undue stress and worry to the senior and their family.

Home Instead has experienced a 25 percent increase in enquiries for care in recent times.