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.