Siptu has called on the Government to provide resources for support home and community care.
In a report on care of the elderly published today the union expressed concern that resources for the sector are not properly monitored, and that plans for the anticipated increased demand for services for the elderly are not in place.
The report says the legal right to home should be introduced along with home care subvention and care-assistant service. It adds that home care subvention should at least equal to the private nursing home subvention.
"Housing and community care services should be integrated to ensure that housing needs of older people are met," the report stated.
Siptu general secretary, Joe O'Flynn told the union's forum on care of the elderly that speedy access to services was critical to the future progress of the health service in the Republic.
"While the users of the health services generally have a very high regard for the quality of care and attention they receive, once they enter the system, the major difficulty arises in securing access," he said.
"This is of particular concern for older people because they are not really in a position to wait for months or perhaps even years for treatment with the likelihood that any delay could lead to serious complications that would turn a relatively minor problem into something far more serious."
The Siptu report also suggested planned development of nursing homes to meet the needs of elderly patients in need of care in "a fair and equitable manner".
The union is seeking additional public nursing home places, and controlled development of private nursing homes, with extra training places for doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
"I believe that public provision is a better way to go for a society which truly cherishes the sacrifice and the contribution of those citizens who were - during their working lives - instrumental in laying the foundations for our current economic success," said Mr O'Flynn.
