News

Increase in Nursing Home Beds

Published On:  Thu, Apr 17th, 2008
Contributed By:  Runway Recruitment Ireland

A survey conducted by Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), which represents the private and voluntary nursing homes sector, found that there has been an overall increase of 974 private nursing home beds since last year.

Mr. Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said the increased provision of acute health care was one of the principal reasons for higher staff costs in nursing homes, which, according to the survey, rose by 21 per cent in the past year.

“Increasingly, private and voluntary nursing homes are taking the pressure off acute hospitals by providing care for residents with complex medical needs. The survey shows that over half of the residents of nursing homes (54 per cent) are in the high dependence category while 33 per cent of all residents had been diagnosed with dementia”, said Mr. Daly.

“There is a significant and growing move in the private nursing homes sector to provide specialist care such as rehabilitation and brain injury care, for instance. The private nursing home sector is willing and able to step up to provide the type and range of healthcare services needed in the community, including skilled specialist care”, he said.

The survey is also published ahead of the publication of the so-called "fair deal" legislation by the Department of Health and Children, which is designed to introduce a new regime for the funding of long-term residential care.

Minister Harney last month insisted that the scheme will proceed, despite legal problems which have delayed its implementation.

The scheme would see residents paying a maximum of 80 per cent of their nursing home costs, while the State would pay the balance. The State will also apply a levy of up to 15 per cent on the value of a resident's estate after they have died.

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