Over 5,500 Older People Still Waiting for Home Support as Regional Inequalities Persist
5,556 people are on the waiting list for home care nationally according to data published today by HCCI. The findings come from its latest report, “Home Support Waiting Lists in 2024,” as part of the HCCI Home Care Data Series.
Key Findings:
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- National Waiting Lists: As of 31st of December last, 5,556 older people were waiting for HSE Home Support nationally. A breakdown of waiting lists by county has not been released yet this year by the HSE.
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- Regional Disparities: Dublin has substantially reduced its waiting lists with North Dublin (CHO 9) maintaining a waiting list below 10 throughout 2024. Other areas in Dublin have seen a 20% reduction from December 2024 to 2024. In contrast, CHO 4 (Cork/Kerry) has had a waiting list of over 1,000 since 2022.
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- Impact of Care Rationing: CHOs 1* and 8** experienced significant increases in waiting lists due to care rationing by the HSE, with waiting lists rising by over 30% in the region. This rationing highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and strategic planning by the government.
Speaking today on the release of the report, CEO Joseph Musgrave said: “It is frustrating that over 5,500 older people are still waiting for home support, especially when we see such stark inequalities between Dublin and the rest of the country. Dublin has reduced its waiting list by at least 20% since December 2023, but this has been met with rising waiting lists in other parts of the country. The average waiting list in Dublin stands at 164 people; outside Dublin it climbs to 843. The variation in waiting lists per region highlights just how much we need a statutory right to home care to ensure that those entitled to home care can access it, no matter where in the country they are. I have heard heartbreaking stories from every corner of the country on how the waiting list is affecting people and their families; people languishing in hospital or having no choice but to enter nursing home care, when that is not what they want. At the end of the day, real people are behind these waiting list numbers. With our aging population, it is our duty to fix this before it is too late.”
*CHO 1: Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan
**CHO 8: Laois, Offaly, Louth, Longford, Meath, Westmeath