Nursing homes ‘effectively full’ as occupancy reaches almost 95%, sector warns

Nursing homes ‘effectively full’ as occupancy reaches almost 95%, sector warns. File picture: iStock

Nursing homes are operating at an average occupancy rate of almost 95%, with older people often having to leave their communities to find a bed, Nursing Homes Ireland has warned.

Ireland’s population of older people is growing, but NHI chief executive Tadhg Daly warned that care systems are not being put in place to meet growing demand.

“Ireland is sleepwalking into one of the biggest social and healthcare challenges in its history,” he said.

“We know exactly what is coming, yet we are still not planning with the ambition and scale required.”

The number of people aged over 85 is expected to increase by as much as 160% in less than two decades, he added.

“That's a tremendous success story because people are living longer, healthier lives,” he said.

“However, the clock is ticking, and we must forward plan instead of simply hoping the necessary infrastructure, care capacity, and support services will somehow appear."

He warned: “Today nursing homes are effectively full”.

Analysis carried out by BDO Ireland for NHI found an average occupancy rate of 94.9% in the first six months of this year across the private and voluntary sectors.

The southwest, covering Cork and Kerry, as well as the midwest, west and northwest regions, were found to have occupancy rates of over 100%.

“Nursing homes are operating with very limited headroom,” it said.

‘Older people having to leave their community’

The majority of nursing home beds in Ireland are in the private or voluntary sector. However, Mr Daly raised concerns about the number of homes which have closed in recent years.

The ESRI has projected that an additional 1,000 nursing home beds will be needed every year between now and 2040.

“We are already seeing older people having to leave their community for nursing home care due to capacity constraints, a situation which is having a real impact on residents and families,” he said.

“Every person in Ireland who relies on nursing home care should have the opportunity and choice to do so within their local community."

The NHI annual conference takes place on Thursday in Kilkenny, with more than 500 delegates in attendance.

Mr Daly called for the Government to bring providers, older people’s groups and others together to focus on a national strategy on ageing.

“The question facing Ireland is simple: what kind of country do we want to be for our older people in 10, 20, and 30 years' time, and what steps are required to achieve this,” he said.

NHI has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, calling for the national strategy to be set up without delay.