Dad, 84, ‘under awful stress’ as son’s care package set to end

Dad, 84, ‘under awful stress’ as son’s care package set to end

Family in County Armagh faces uncertainty

Alphie Lonergan, 84, is the sole caregiver for his two adult sons, Ronan and Donall, both in their 40s and living at home. The Southern Health Trust previously provided a three-hour care package for both, but this has been reduced to one hour for Ronan since March 2024. The support for Donall is now set to expire on Friday, leaving Alphie to manage without assistance.

“Thank God I’m in good shape physically. Mentally, I’m under awful, awful stress,” Alphie said, expressing concern over the impending change.

Alphie’s daughters offer some help, but the strain is spreading across the entire family. “My two daughters were thrown in at the deep end from an early age,” he explained. “They have their own children, jobs to hold down, and I have to call them: ‘Would you come down here, I’m stuck.’ That’s very stressful for them as well.”

Challenges of daily care routines

Donall, who is also autistic and has obsessive compulsive disorder, currently receives a one-hour daily visit to help him get ready for the day. Alphie described the process: “He brushes his teeth three times and checks his laces six times before being ready.” Despite these efforts, Donall’s behavior is affecting Alphie’s sleep. “He stays up until the early hours of the morning,” Alphie said. “I can’t switch off, even though he doesn’t mean to cause harm.”

“I wouldn’t be sleeping that great,” he added. “He walks about from room to room, closing doors. I’m aware of it, but I can’t escape it.”

The Southern Health Trust acknowledged the pressure on the Lonergan family, citing a shortage of social care staff as the reason for the cuts. “We continue to actively pursue a range of potential options to maintain the service for this family,” the trust stated. “This includes reviewing rota schedules in Armagh and surrounding areas and linking with multidisciplinary teams for support.”

Pay offer leaves some caregivers unpaid

In November, it was revealed that certain social care staff would not receive the pay offer extended to Northern Ireland healthcare workers. The agreement, designed to prevent industrial action, applied to doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff but excluded independent sector homecare workers. Funding for the Real Living Wage was available, yet it remains unclear if it will be allocated to those in need.

According to the last Census in Northern Ireland, conducted in 2021, the demand for care services has grown alongside the aging population. However, the current crisis highlights the strain on rural areas, where Alphie and his family reside. “I feel awful talking about them,” he said. “They’re two great lads. I love them dearly.” Alphie vowed to continue caring for his children, recalling his wife’s final words: “I’m sorry about this Alphie, look after the children.”