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
At 84, Alphie Lonergan serves as the main caregiver for his two adult children, both in their 40s. Ronan and Donall, who have severe learning disabilities, reside at home with their father. What was once a comprehensive three-hour care service from their local health trust has been drastically reduced, with one son’s support cut to an hour in 2024. This support is now set to conclude on Friday, leaving Alphie to manage both sons alone.
“Thank God I’m in good shape, physically. Mentally I’m under awful, awful stress,” Alphie said, expressing concern over the challenges ahead.
Southern Health Trust’s Response
The Southern Health Trust acknowledged the strain on the Lonergan family, offering an apology for the disruption. However, it attributed the decision to withdraw the care package to a shortage of social care staff. The family lives in Loughgilly, a remote village in County Armagh, where the situation has become increasingly demanding.
Ronan’s care sessions ended in March 2024, resulting in fewer hours of assistance at home. Donall, who also has autism and obsessive compulsive disorder, currently receives an hour of daily help to prepare for the day. Alphie described Donall’s meticulous routine: brushing his teeth three times and checking his laces six times before being ready.
Family’s Daily Struggles
Despite the support from his two daughters, Alphie feels the weight of uncertainty pressing on the entire family. “My two daughters were thrown in at the deep end from an early age,” he explained. They balance their own responsibilities, including raising children and maintaining jobs, while Alphie often calls them for help.
“I feel awful talking about them, they’re two great lads. I love them dearly. The last words my wife said: ‘I’m sorry about this Alphie, look after the children.’ And that’s something I’ll definitely do.”
Alphie also faces difficulty in getting adequate rest, as Donall frequently stays up late. “I wouldn’t be sleeping that great,” he admitted. “He’s very careful, he wouldn’t do any harm. But he walks about from room to room, closing doors. I’m aware of it, I can’t switch off.”
Efforts to Maintain Support
The Southern Trust emphasized its ongoing efforts to sustain the service, including reviewing staff schedules and collaborating with other teams. “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,” the trust stated.
Additionally, in November 2021, it was confirmed that some social care staff would not receive the pay offer extended to Northern Ireland healthcare workers. This offer, intended 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, though it hasn’t been fully realized.
