Group calls on Govt strategy to deal with Ireland's aging population

The representative group for private nursing homes is calling on the Government to help deal with a rising demand for services.

Nursing Homes Ireland said it will visit every TD and Senator as part of its campaign to hold a national forum on the long-term provision of care.

It said nursing homes are struggling for resources and that problem could be made worse by Ireland's aging population.

Tadhg Daly, the Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: "All of the reports that sit in Government departments are acknowledging that we have an aging population, we have a growing need for services for older people and members of Nursing Homes Ireland are in a position to provide those services.

"What we need is a strategy that includes all stakeholders.

"The Government, HIQA as the regulator, the NTPS as a purchaser and Nursing Homes Ireland to ensure that we can meet the needs of an aging population."