Long-Stay Care Ageing in Ireland
1st February 2001, National Council on Ageing and Older People
While the future development of the Irish health services is in the direction of community-based care, there will always be a need to provide long-stay residential care for some older people. Exact figures about the number of older people in long-stay care at any one time are not available but it is clear that the percentage (approximately 5%) is much lower than is commonly thought. In recent years the long-stay sector has seen a number of changes. The number of older people in geriatric and psychiatric hospitals has fallen while the number in private nursing home beds has increased.