Democratic call for an increase of at least 15,000 nursing home beds required by the year 2040, as stated by Nursing Homes Ireland.
Minister of State for Older People, Kieran O'Donnell, has announced the preparation of a long-term care capacity plan. This plan, to be published by the end of the year, will be developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The plan comes in response to growing concerns about the demand for long-term residential care beds in Ireland. According to the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI), at least 15,000 new nursing home care beds will be required by 2040.
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), which represents the private and voluntary nursing homes sector, has emphasised the need for a national workforce plan for long-term care. Tadhg Daly, NHI's CEO, projects a demand for over 1,000 new nursing home beds every year.
The HSE will open 160 new nursing home beds this year, along with 455 replacement beds, totalling 615 beds. However, with Ireland's aging population and the closing of nursing homes, the need for more beds may outpace this production.
The Programme for Government also promises to build more public nursing home beds and increase home care hours. Additionally, it commits to introducing a statutory home care scheme.
Minister O'Donnell also mentioned an increase in the rates for the Fair Deal scheme, a state-backed system that helps cover the cost of long-term care.
Where the new nursing home capacity is located is important, as concentrating it only in urban areas could leave many communities behind. NHI has stressed the need to ensure that rural areas are also adequately served.
An independent Commission on Older People is due to produce a report, including on long-term residential care. This report could provide further insights and recommendations for addressing the growing demand for long-term care in Ireland.
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