Nursing home transfer pace for young people ‘frustratingly slow’, says Cork TD 

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has criticised the HSE’s “frustratingly slow” process of moving young people with disabilities out of nursing homes, as the HSE confirmed 1,250 young people across Ireland are living in these settings, with only 104 having been transferred out since 2021.

An acquired brain injury is the primary diagnosis for the majority of under-65s in a nursing home, representing approximately 26% of the under-65 cohort.

This is followed by acquired neurological conditions, intellectual disability cerebral palsy, dementia, and spina bifida.

The HSE told Mr Quaide, the party’s spokesperson for disability, in response to a parliamentary question: “Including this year’s transitions , and based on the data we have from the [under-65] operational tracker, there has been in total 104 transitions since the project commenced.

“The majority moved to community residential placements, including sheltered living, specialised, and residential placements, with other individuals returning to their own/family home or to a new personal home. There are 17 new transfers, with reserved funding, expected to move before the end of 2025.”

The HSE added individuals who need to continue in their nursing home placement “have benefitted from enhanced quality of life supports funded by the [under-65] programme”, with 154 individuals provided with enhanced quality of life supports last year.

Decrease

The spokesperson said data shows that, since 2021, there has been “an overall trend of a decrease in numbers of people under 65 residing in nursing homes”.

In 2021 to 2023, there has been a drop of 100 in the average number of under-65 individuals in nursing homes per month.

“However, data over 2024/2025 shows that the number has plateaued around an average of approximately 1,250 individuals per month.”

Desperately sad

Mr Quaide said: “This is a desperately sad and indefensible situation.

“It is another example of how much distance is opening up between our economic prosperity, on the one hand, and the vindication of disabled people’s basic rights on the other.

“Perpetuating younger people’s reliance on nursing homes is an affront to their dignity and right to independence.

“The Disability Federation of Ireland has highlighted how some younger people with disabilities are being placed in nursing homes because of a breakdown in family care arrangements. This might involve an ageing parent or the decline in the health of a family carer, rather than because of the disability itself.

“It is important to note there are many people in nursing homes aged over 65 whose needs for connection, rehabilitation, and community integration are also not being met in these settings, and who should be supported to live at home or in more community-integrated services.”

He called for a commitment in the upcoming budget to speed up this process, saying: “Younger people with disabilities or chronic illness should no longer be reliant on nursing homes, but instead supported to live and receive appropriate rehabilitation in their communities.”