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, 84, is the primary caregiver for two of his adult children, Ronan and Donall, both in their 40s, who have severe learning disabilities and live at home with their father. Until recently, the family received a three-hour care package from their local health trust. However, in March 2024, this was reduced to just one hour for Ronan. The service is now set to conclude on Friday, leaving Alphie to manage the daily needs of his sons alone.
Alphie described the emotional toll of the situation. “Thank God I’m in good shape, physically. Mentally I’m under awful, awful stress,” he said, expressing concern over how he will handle the challenges ahead. The Southern Health Trust acknowledged the stress caused to the Lonergan family, though it explained the decision to cut the care package was due to a shortage of social care staff.
Family Life in Rural County Armagh
Residing in Loughgilly, a rural area of County Armagh, the Lonergan family has faced increasing pressure as care support diminishes. Donall, who is also autistic and suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, currently receives a daily one-hour session to assist with dressing and morning routines. Alphie shared specific details about his son’s habits, noting that Donall brushes his teeth three times and checks his laces six times before being ready for the day.
Despite the reduction, Donall and Ronan still attend day centers in nearby towns during the day. At home, Alphie is the sole carer. “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,” he added. The emotional weight of the situation is evident as he expressed pride in his children: “I feel awful talking about them, they’re two great lads. I love them dearly.”
Impact on Family Dynamics
Alphie’s two daughters provide some support, but the uncertainty surrounding care has created a ripple effect 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, trying to hold down their jobs, and I have to call them: ‘Would you come down here, I’m stuck.’” This added responsibility has made things stressful for them too.
Additionally, Alphie is struggling with limited rest, as Donall often 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.”
Southern Health Trust’s Response
The Southern Health Trust stated it is working with the family to explore alternatives. “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 said in a statement. It also noted efforts to check with staff in other regions for possible support, though no additional help has been secured yet.
In November, it was confirmed that some social care staff would not benefit from a pay offer aimed at preventing industrial action in Northern Ireland. The offer, which included funding for the Real Living Wage, was extended to doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff but excluded homecare workers in the independent sector.
