Dad, 84, ‘under awful stress’ as son’s care package set to end
Dad’s Care Package Set to End Amid Growing Strain
Alphie Lonergan, a 84-year-old man from County Armagh, is the primary caregiver for his two sons, Ronan and Donall, both in their 40s, who have severe learning disabilities. The family has lived in Loughgilly, a rural area, for years, relying on a local health trust’s support. That support, however, is now facing an uncertain future.
Initially, the trust provided a three-hour care package for both sons. By 2024, this had been reduced to just one hour for Ronan, and the remaining care for Donall is set to end this weekend. Alphie has expressed concern about the impending change, stating,
“Thank God I’m in good shape, physically. Mentally I’m under awful, awful stress.”
He fears how he will manage without the assistance, particularly as Donall, who is also autistic and has obsessive compulsive disorder, requires specific routines to prepare for the day.
Reduced Care and Daily Challenges
Donall’s care was cut significantly in March 2024, leading to a marked shift in the family’s daily life. Now, a carer visits for an hour each day to help him with morning tasks. Alphie described the process, noting,
“Donall brushes his teeth three times and checks his laces six times before he is ready for the day.”
The routine is vital, as Donall doesn’t wake up without the carer’s presence.
While the sons attend day centers in nearby towns during the day, Alphie remains the sole provider of care at home. He admitted,
“Donall doesn’t get up until the carer arrives— you can’t lift a boy in his 40s out of bed and get him up on his feet who doesn’t want to do it.”
Despite his efforts, the stress of managing his sons’ needs is evident. Alphie also shared,
“I feel awful talking about them, they’re two great lads. I love them dearly.”
Family Support and Uncertainty
Though Alphie receives help from his two daughters, the burden of caregiving continues to affect the entire family. He explained,
“My two daughters were thrown in at the deep end from an early age. They have their own children, they’re trying to hold down their jobs, and I have to phone them: ‘Would you come down here, I’m stuck.’”
The daughters, too, face added pressure, as they often step in during moments of crisis.
Additionally, Alphie struggles with rest due to Donall’s late-night habits. He mentioned,
“I wouldn’t be sleeping that great. He’s very careful, he wouldn’t do any harm. But he walks about from room to room, closing doors.”
The constant activity keeps him on edge, making it hard to unwind.
Staff Shortages and Pay Disputes
The Southern Health Trust acknowledged the strain on the Lonergan family, stating it was due to a shortage of social care staff. In a statement, they said,
“We continue to actively pursue a range of potential options to maintain the service for this family; including continuously reviewing rotas in the Armagh and surrounding areas to see if we can create additional capacity as well as linking with other multidisciplinary teams to seek support.”
However, they noted that no additional staff had been available yet.
In November, a decision was made that some social care workers would not receive the pay offer intended to prevent industrial action. This offer, which applied to doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff, excluded independent homecare workers. Funding for the Real Living Wage had been allocated, but it wasn’t utilized to secure better pay for these caregivers.