Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
590. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of men under the age of 65 years living in nursing homes; the number of women under the age of 65 years living in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33673/23]
View answerI understand the Deputy is referring to the Ombudsman's Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes which looked at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.
I recognise that nursing homes can, at times, be appropriate care options where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.
Nonetheless, for some people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate setting, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
There is a commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of inappropriately accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes and to facilitate where appropriate, people under 65s who wish to live elsewhere. In this context, work has been ongoing between my Department and the HSE to address nursing home care of people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere. A key part of progressing this programme of work, is to have accurate and timely data on the numbers of individuals within scope, their profile and operational activity.
A primary source of U65 data has been provided by the HSE’s Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS). Based on this data the latest validated data as of May 2023, shows that there are a total of 1,226 residents in Nursing Homes under the age of 65.
• Currently 15% of the population is under the age of 50 and with a 56%/44% male/female ratio. Please note this data does not include privately funded nursing home places.
• A new U65 Nursing Home Survey was sent out on the 28th April 2023, to all HIQA registered Nursing Homes, to get a more complete picture of U65s in a nursing home and their needs. Responses to the survey are currently being received by the HSE. The survey is due to close at the end of this month.
