An Garda Siochana and the HSE (ICPOP) joint initiative “The Vulnerable Persons Program”

Description

As a front line service, members of An Garda SIochana have always played a role in the management and care of elderly people dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s particular in an out of hours capacity. However, policing by its nature is a reactive service responding to calls and dealing with situations as they arise, some of which are already at crisis point. During the COVID pandemic this front line involvement was increased due to the number of elderly people living alone and unable to interact with other people or support services. As members of the Community policing unit, we took on a more proactive role in seeking out elderly people in the community that were in need of assistance.
While doing so members of the Community Policing Unit, Tallaght noted that elderly members of the community who had advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s were at particular risk during the lock down due to the isolation and lack of support. Members of the community policing team called to these people on a daily basis to offer assistance, support and company. Gardaí became aware due to resource limitations that this was not a long term solution and observed a number of the vulnerable people were not linked to the relevant medical services and were at risk of falling through the cracks in the system.
Part of our proactive approach brought us into contact with the Integrated Care team for Older People (ICPOP). The ICPOP Tallaght team were also able to bring a number of cases of vulnerable individuals that they were aware of to the attention of the Gardaí. ICPOP had identified that there appeared to be a greater number of vulnerable persons engaging in episodes of purposeful walking in the community, increasing their risk of harm and often requiring the assistance of a member of the public and the Gardaí to return home. We developed a good ongoing working relationship with the ICPOP team that allowed improved support to be provided in the Tallaght area mainly through seeking advice and attempts to link vulnerable person in with the required services.
Gardaí and ICPOP quickly became aware that the volume of people being identified who had did not have an adequate support system in place was growing and a voluntary vulnerable persons data base was created in order to give structured access to information and ensure no one identified was overlooked. This data base quickly evolved to included frequented places, GP details and brief medical history and next of kin in case an emergency incident occurred.
A statement of purpose was also created in order to facilitate the sharing of information between both organisations and to put in place a structure including weekly meetings and quarterly formal steering group meetings.
As the initiative progressed members of the ICPOP team developed a half-day dementia awareness training course specific to the requirements of Gardaí. This is delivered to local Community Policing Teams and Probationary Gardaí. The training was also delivered to the Community Policing teams of Crumlin/Sundrive Road and Lucan/Ronanstown Garda stations. These areas are included in the catchment area of the ICPOP Tallaght service.
The result of this collaboration between the community policing unit in Tallaght and ICPOP has been a higher standard of safe guarding and health care for vulnerable elderly individuals living in the Tallaght area. It has facilitated a new increased level of information sharing and cooperation between both organisations. It has had a positive effect on the level of continuing support and interaction that An Garda Síochana can provide to identified vulnerable individuals.
Due to the success of this initiative in the Tallaght area, the concept has gained traction and is now being rolled out in other policing areas in the Dublin region which are also covered by the ICPOP team. With regards to developing this initiative further, An Garda Síochána Community Policing Teams are located nationally and this initiative could be developed at a national level. It is easily transferable and cost neutral.
Feedback from Garda participants to date has highlighted a need for, and an interest in, Gardaí learning more about dementia/Alzheimer’s and how to support those living with it. The ICPOP Tallaght team would also like to see this training being delivered to trainees at the Garda College in Templemore thereby providing early education opportunities. It is important that all community partners, including An Garda Síochána, work together to provide support in an integrated manner for people living with dementia/Alzheimer’s.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of this program is to identify and facilitate timely responsive intervention for hard to reach vulnerable persons and to offer ongoing support in the community thereafter, to ensure no one is left to suffer in silence. A secondary aim is to foster a positive working relationship between the HSE and An Garda Síochana which will benefit all service users.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is primarily aimed at elderly vulnerable people who have dementia or Alzheimer’s in our communities who lack a support network or may not be previously linked to the relevant required services.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Multi agency cooperation which enables the sharing of information and resources.
2. The development of a statement of purpose and a voluntary vulnerable person database which allowed members to catalogue relevant details of people at risk in the community and what their specific medical needs and risks are. This added structure to the initiative.
3. The development of relevant training programs by the ICPOP team which have enable Gardaí to better deal with crisis situations which may occur when other service providers are not available.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. The implications of the data sharing in relation to GDPR was an initial issue that was addressed in the statement of purpose. This was important to ensure that data protection does not impede the provision of necessary health care.
2. The process of identification of persons in both the HSE and An Garda Síochana who were in a position to assist and offer further services to vulnerable older adults.
3. Putting the structures in place for this initiative that could provide for an increased level of co-operation between agencies and facilitation of services to vulnerable adults on an on-going basis. It is important that these structures can withstand the test of time including any changes to personnel involved. The structure must also be able to withstand increased demand from vulnerable older adults and at times reduced resources.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. The provision of better care and support services to elderly vulnerable adults who are dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
2. This initiative has facilitated a closer working relationship between the HSE and An Garda Síochana in the Tallaght area when dealing with older vulnerable adults. This closer relationship has had a direct beneficial effect on the level of service and care being provided to vulnerable individuals in need
3. The development of the vulnerable persons register has allow a better facilitation of information within An Garda Síochana. It has ensured that relevant useful information about the vulnerable persons who are included in the register is available to aid Gardaí when needed and in whatever circumstances may arise. For example, if one of these persons is reported missing there is information readily accessible that could aid in locating them