Nursing homes are homes for older people who deserve to live out their lives in dignity

This month, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) launched a national billboard campaign outside Leinster House, urgently calling for government action to address the unsustainable state of nursing home care in Ireland. The message is clear: since 2018, 77 nursing homes have closed, resulting in the loss of over 2,800 beds. These closures are not just statistics; they represent a growing crisis in the provision of essential care for older people.

The west of Ireland has been hard hit by these closures, and NHI is taking the message directly to the people, with local nursing homes forced to shut their doors, leaving families struggling to find care for their loved ones close to home.

At the heart of the issue is the flawed pricing model within the Fair Deal scheme, which sees private and voluntary nursing homes receiving €650 less per bed, per week, than their public counterparts. This funding disparity, amounting to a gap of €33,800 per resident annually, is forcing many nursing homes to close, with devastating consequences for residents, families, and communities alike.

The Erosion of Community-Based Care West of Ireland, with its significant rural population, has felt the closures of nursing homes acutely. The closure of nursing homes has dismantled the support networks that families and older people rely on. This is not just a matter of inconvenience - it’s about real people, real families, and real heartbreak.

The campaign highlights that families are being forced to send their loved ones far from home, often to facilities in other counties. Last month, a Coyne Research survey commissioned by NHI reflected this reality, finding that nearly 60% of respondents were deeply concerned about the availability of local nursing home care. Communities are losing vital services, and the government must intervene to prevent further closures.

The Urgency of Planning for the Future Ireland’s population is ageing rapidly, with the number of people over 65 expected to increase by 66% in the next two decades. For those aged over 85, the numbers are set to more than double. While we should celebrate the fact that people are living longer, these demographic shifts place immense pressure on a sector that is already struggling. Despite these clear challenges, we are still waiting for the government to fulfil its promise of a comprehensive review of Fair Deal pricing, recommended back in 2019.

The Fair Deal scheme is failing in its current form. Underfunding is widespread, and nursing homes are struggling to stay afloat.

Fair Deal’s Flaws Private and voluntary nursing homes receive significantly less funding than their public counterparts. Nursing homes are homes for older people who deserve to live out their lives with dignity. These homes also provide jobs and peace of mind for families, who trust their loved ones will receive the care they need. Without adequate funding, this trust is being eroded, and the sector is being pushed to the brink of collapse.

Government Must Act Now The message from our billboard campaign is simple: Fair Deal pricing is not fair. The government must take immediate action to reform the scheme and ensure that nursing homes receive the funding they need to provide high-quality care. This means reviewing the current pricing model, closing the gap between private and public sector funding, and ensuring that nursing home staff are adequately paid.

If the government does not act soon, more homes will close, and more families, will be left without the care their loved ones need. The time for action is now. The Fair Deal scheme must be reformed, and additional funding must be provided to support the sector’s sustainability.

The Path Forward We must continue to push for change and hold the government accountable for its promises. The sustainability of nursing home care is not just a political issue; it is a moral imperative.

Our older population deserves better. Families deserve peace of mind, knowing their loved ones will be cared for in their communities, close to home. The government must acknowledge the urgent need for reform and take concrete steps to address it.

The consequences of inaction are clear: more nursing home closures, more families left without access to care, and more heartbreak. We must act now to ensure that our nursing homes, can continue to provide the essential services our ageing population relies on. The future of nursing home care depends on it. For more information, you can go to www.nhi.ie/fixfairdeal.

Tadhg Daly, Chief Executive Officer, Nursing Homes Ireland