Nursing homes body reveals almost 60% are concerned about availability of places

Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: 'This is not just a healthcare issue; it is a challenge for society as a whole.' Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Nearly six in 10 people are very concerned about a lack of nursing homes in their area, with rural areas taking the brunt of recent closures, the sector's representative body has said.

Last year 10 nursing homes closed and seven more so far this year among “at least 77” closures since 2018, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) said.

“Most of these closures have occurred in rural areas, deepening concerns over the availability of local care,” it warned.

Research, commissioned by NHI, showed nearly six in 10 people are either very or extremely concerned their relatives may not be able to find a place in a local nursing home.

NHI chief executive Tadhg Daly pointed to the growing number of older people in Ireland as a key factor in this debate. 

“This is not just a healthcare issue; it is a challenge for society as a whole,” he said. “Our ageing population is increasing rapidly, and we should be celebrating this fact. However, if we don't act now, the consequences will be profound.” 

Nursing homes should be a vital part of communities and “planning now will prevent heartbreak later", he said.

Speaking ahead of the NHI national conference which opens on Thursday, he said nursing home owners will come together to discuss the crisis.

“We are calling on policymakers, government officials, and the entire healthcare sector to meet the challenges of caring, together. The projected growth in the number of older people in Ireland means we cannot afford to delay,” he urged.

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The survey of 1,000 people was carried out last month. Among them, 57% are concerned, 26% extremely concerned and 31% very concerned at gaps in nursing home provision in their areas.

People aged over 40 were more likely to be very or extremely concerned, the survey by Coyne Research found.

Almost four in five of respondents agreed additional funding through the Fair Deal scheme is needed to improve working conditions for private nursing home staff.

Asked whether nursing home care is adequately funded by the State, 15% strongly disagreed that it is and 32% disagreed, coming to a combined 47% with reservations.