Dad, 84, ‘under awful stress’ as son’s care package set to end

Alphie Lonergan, 84, faces significant pressure as the care support for his two adult sons with severe learning disabilities is set to conclude. Ronan and Donall, both in their 40s, reside at home with their father, relying on his assistance. Initially, the health trust provided a three-hour care session, but this was reduced to a single hour in 2024 for Ronan. Now, the full package is expected to terminate on Friday.

“Thank God I’m in good shape physically. Mentally, I’m under awful stress,” Alphie shared, expressing concern about managing the daily challenges without additional help.

Residents of Loughgilly, a remote region in County Armagh, the Southern Health Trust acknowledged the strain on the family but cited staffing shortages as the reason for the care reduction. Donall, who has autism and obsessive compulsive disorder, currently receives a daily one-hour session to help with morning routines. Alphie described how Donall’s habits, such as brushing his teeth three times and checking his laces six times, make the process time-consuming.

Ronan’s care ended in March 2024, which prompted a decrease in the time carers spent with the family. While both sons attend day centers in nearby towns during the day, Alphie remains the sole caregiver at home. “Donall doesn’t get up until the carer arrives—you can’t lift a man in his 40s out of bed without him wanting to,” he added.

“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.”

Although Alphie has support from his daughters, the unpredictable nature of the situation complicates their ability to provide consistent aid. “My two daughters were thrown in at the deep end from an early age,” he explained. “They have their own children, hold down jobs, and I often call them: ‘Would you come down here, I’m stuck.’ That’s very stressful for them too.”

Donall’s unpredictable behavior also impacts Alphie’s rest. “I wouldn’t be sleeping that great,” he said. “He’s very careful, but he walks around from room to room, closing doors. I’m aware of it, I can’t switch off.”

The Southern Health Trust highlighted its ongoing struggle to recruit and retain staff, particularly in rural areas, while working closely with the family. “We continue to actively pursue options to maintain the service for this family,” the trust stated. “This includes reviewing rosters in Armagh and surrounding regions to create more capacity and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams for support.”

Additionally, the trust noted efforts to allocate staff from other areas to assist, though no additional help has been secured yet. In November, it was confirmed that some social care workers would not receive the pay offer aimed at Northern Ireland healthcare staff, which was intended to prevent industrial action. The offer included doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff but excluded independent sector homecare workers, leaving them without the Real Living Wage funding.