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
Alphie Lonergan, an 84-year-old man, has become the main caregiver for his two adult sons, Ronan and Donall, both in their 40s, who have severe learning disabilities and live at home with him. The family resides in Loughgilly, a rural area of County Armagh. Previously, the family received a three-hour daily care service from their local health trust for both sons. However, this support has been reduced, and the care package for Ronan was cut to an hour in March 2024. The current arrangement is about to conclude on Friday, leaving Alphie to manage alone.
Challenges at Home
Donall, who is also autistic and has obsessive compulsive disorder, now receives one hour of daily care to help him with morning routines. Alphie described the process, noting how Donall brushes his teeth three times and checks his laces six times before being ready for the day. “He 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,” he said. The two sons attend day centers in nearby towns during the day, but Alphie is the sole carer at home.
“I feel terrible when I speak about them; they’re wonderful young men. 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 added.
The Southern Health Trust acknowledged the stress caused to the Lonergan family, citing a shortage of social care staff as the reason for the service reduction. “We continue to actively pursue a range of potential options to maintain the service for this family,” the trust stated in a statement. “This includes reviewing rosters in Armagh and surrounding areas to create more capacity and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams for support.”
Despite these efforts, the trust noted that no additional staff have been willing to take on extra work in the area where the family lives. Alphie also receives help from his two daughters, though the uncertainty surrounding care has placed a strain on their ability to manage their own lives. “My daughters were thrown in at the deep end from an early age,” he said. “They have their own children, trying to hold down jobs, and I often have to call them: ‘Would you come down here, I’m stuck.’ That’s very stressful for them as well.”
Additionally, Alphie struggles to get rest due to Donall staying up late. “I wouldn’t be sleeping that great,” he explained. “He’s very careful, he wouldn’t do any harm. But he walks around from room to room, closing doors. I’m aware of it, I can’t switch off.”
Pay Offer and Staff Shortages
In November, it was confirmed that some social care staff would not benefit from the pay offer made to Northern Ireland healthcare workers. The offer, designed to prevent industrial action, applied to doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff but excluded homecare workers in the independent sector. Funding for the Real Living Wage was available, but the trust has not yet secured it. This issue highlights broader challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, particularly in rural regions.
