Waiting list for home care services surges by 13% in a year

Of the 5,406 people waiting for homecare, 986 are in the HSE South West region — 891 in Cork, and 95 in Kerry

The HSE’s head of service for older people, access, and integration, was responding to a parliamentary question from Cork South-Central Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The number of people waiting for homecare services has shot up by 13% in a year amid concerns that older people could be pushed towards nursing homes.

New figures show that 5,406 people were waiting to be assigned a carer on February 26, up from 4,805 a year earlier.

Kathleen Jordan, the HSE’s head of service for older people, access, and integration, said that nobody is waiting for funding to be allocated for Home Support, but they are waiting for carers to be assigned due to shortages.

Some 2,198 people on the waiting lists are "new service users", while 3,208 are existing users who are waiting to receive additional hours.

Ms Jordan was responding to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Pádraig Rice.

Ms Jordan said that Home Support aims to “enable people to continue to live in their own homes with confidence, security and dignity”.

She said the support is “based on assessment of the person’s needs by the HSE, having regard to available resources and competing demands”.

Over-65 population growing

A recent ESRI report said the population over 65 is projected to grow from 780,000 in 2022 to 1.3m by 2040.

“This demographic shift is the primary driver of increased demand for home support services,” Mr Jordan explained.

Demand for carers has grown in recent years, with recruitment drives common in the health service. 

Last summer, HSE Southwest ran a recruitment campaign for home support jobs across Cork and Kerry. 

It offered salaries of €35,434 to €44,539 and paid travel time. 

It was warned at that time that the shortage of carers could lead to patients being unable to be discharged from hospital because they are waiting for a carer to be found, even if their medical treatment is finished.

'Utterly unacceptable' 

Mr Rice said the situation is “utterly unacceptable”.  

"Government cannot continue to ignore these unacceptably long homecare waiting lists, particularly in rural areas,” he said.

“We’re repeatedly told that expanding homecare is a priority, but these persistently high figures say otherwise.

At a time when we have a rapidly ageing population, there are almost 5,500 older people around the country approved for homecare but left languishing on waiting lists.

“In Cork, the situation continues to deteriorate, with almost 900 people waiting for homecare. This is utterly unacceptable.

“Without action, this will simply drive more people into nursing homes, ultimately costing the State more money."

Of the 5,406 people waiting, 986 are in the HSE South West region, and some 891 of these are in Cork, with the remaining 95 people in Kerry.

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In the HSE Mid-West, which services Clare, Limerick, and north Tipperary, there are 819 people on the waiting list, according to the latest figures.

The highest waiting list is in the HSE West and North West Region, with 1,200 people waiting to access care. This was followed by the HSE Dublin and South East Region, where the waiting list has risen to 1,138.

• Louise Burne, Political Correspondent