Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for older people, I am proud to commend the motion to the House. Unfortunately, due to the Government’s inaction, the motion is urgently needed to address an issue that poses a threat to the dignity and well-being of our elderly, namely the alarming surge in nursing home closures across the State. Since 2020 we have seen the closure of 34 private and voluntary nursing homes, translating into a loss of more than 1,000 beds. That represents not only numbers but individual lives being displaced and families being plunged into deep uncertainty and distress. It is crucial that we do not forget that these are not merely statistics but real people and lives being impacted. Our elders, the ones who have built and shaped our nation, now find themselves and their safety net being gradually eroded.

I want to mention Eily Ahern. Eily is a mother, a wife, a seamstress who survived war and the death of close relatives. She loves to dance and sing despite her advanced dementia. She has been a resident in Beaumont Nursing Home since 2019 but she may now have to leave her home. Is the Minister or anyone in the Government going to explain to her why this is the case? Who will tell her this? This will be left to her family to do and it breaks my heart that the Minister can sit there and let that happen. Everyone is increasingly concerned about the Fair Deal scheme. Once hailed by the Government as the cornerstone of residential care, it is now under threat. Many nursing homes are contemplating abandoning the scheme altogether. They say it is no longer providing sustainable funding for them. The uncertainty is compounded by the stark revelation that a significant number of nursing homes reported operating losses in 2022. That casts a shadow over the future viability of the sector. This is especially true of smaller nursing homes which are family-run businesses which are struggling to make ends meet. The PwC report commissioned by Nursing Homes Ireland paints a stark picture of escalating costs with operational costs per resident and now bed development costs increasing by 36% and over 45% respectively since 2017. Nor must we forget these challenges occur against a backdrop of a rapidly ageing population. The health profile of nursing home residents is set to become increasingly complex as we expect the number of people over the age of 85 years to double over the next two decades. As we increase care provision in the home we must consider the profound implications this will have on our nursing-home sector. We need action now to avert further crises in future.

However, an issue that is facing our older folk now is that of staff shortages. Nursing homes face significant difficulty in recruiting and retaining experienced staff. HIQA has echoed this concern in its 2022 annual report. Staffing shortages have a direct impact on the number of available beds and the quality of care given in homes. HIQA’s December 2021 report noted the decrease in available beds in 17 counties and a persistent trend of smaller nursing homes closing. All this is happening while the commission on care essential for a sustainable plan for residential care is yet to be established. Why is it not established? We need to heed these cautionary statements and for the Government to act to deliver a collective pay agreement for workers and review public funding arrangements for long-term nursing care.

Our elderly citizens deserve to spend their later years with dignity and without fear of displacement in their homes, which are suitably funded, properly staffed and competently managed. Sinn Féin will continue to advocate for the rights of our older people. We are committed to ensuring this issue does not slip through into oblivion but is given the attention and the action that it urgently requires. Families voices must be heard. I urge the Government to support our motion.

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