Over 870 carers in Cork are now aged over 80

Over 5,400 people in Cork aged over 65 are carers for a family member, neighbour or friend, including 875 carers who are over 80.

As a result, many elderly parents are now isolated at home with their adult children with disabilities, "feeling guilty" that they cannot drive them to activities, a campaigner has said.

The most recent Census data has shown that 5,486 people in Cork aged 65 years and over provide regular unpaid care to close friends or family members who suffer from a longterm illness, health issue, disability or issue to do with old age. 

There are 565 carers in Cork who are aged between 80 and 84, and 310 who are over 85.

Glanmire's Sinead McGrath, whose twins Alex and Lee who have additional needs, is involved with the Before We Die campaign group and she has spoken to elderlyy carers of family members with disabilities, including one father who is 93.

“The people we’re speaking to are saying that the State took down the walls of the institutions and said they were moving away from congregated settings, but just replaced it with isolating people in their own homes," she told The Echo.

Research by the group has identified that there are 305 families in Cork where an adult with an intellectual disability is being cared for at home by a parent aged over 70.

“Lots of older parents are living in rural areas and don’t drive anymore, and they can’t get their adult children to day services not to mind activities they used to like swimming lessons or an art club,” Ms McGrath said.

As well as elderly parents, there are a lot of sibling carers in their campaign group, who have often been a carer "their whole life”, she added.

One family in Cork have seen three generations of family carers. "A niece, now in her 70s, took over the care for her uncle, in his 80s, three decades ago, and the niece is now very ill, so the daughter will be taking over care of the elderly grand-uncle," said Ms McGrath.

Ms McGrath said that they have been meeting with government politicians on the issue.

A motion by Cork Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide on the topic has recently been passed in the Dáil, and Cork city and county councils are working together on a pilot programme for social housing.

“We always knew the political side was going to be a long and slow process, but we’re reaching out to people and giving them a template to lobby their local TDs, and we’ve have seen huge changes within families themselves,” she said.

Surveys undertaken by the Before We Die group show that almost three-quarters of families have never had a conversation with the State about long-term housing, and only 2% have a written plan.

Ms McGrath said: “It’s not the nicest conversation, what happens after you die, but people are starting to have it.

“When I started campaigning in October 2025, people were saying to me that they didn’t even want to think about it, but now these same people are approaching me at the supermarket, on the street and asking for more information, saying they are ready now.

“Families are talking, sharing information and feeling less isolated. We’re hearing again and again that older parents feel guilty that their son or daughter doesn’t have the same lifestyle they could provide them with, when they were younger.

“People who have cared for their children for 40 years or more with nothing but love, to feel that guilt at this stage of their life is awful, but we are able to tell them that others are feeling that way too.” 

Before We Die are planning an event in The Helix in Dublin on September 19, after a Cork event was attended by 400 families earlier this summer.

A smaller event will also be held in the West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen on September 11, to facilitate people who are unable to travel to city events.

The figures on Cork carers were provided to Cork Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould.

 “This burden can be immense and becomes more and more difficult as they age. There must be planning in place for carers as they get older," he said.

“Instead, the HSE often waits until there is a crisis – often a health emergency that means the carer is no longer able to provide any care. Instead of a transition, there is a traumatic move to residential facilities.

“The State owes these people a debt of gratitude – they have often stepped up where the state has failed. 

"While their friends and peers are enjoying their retirement, carers are staying up at night worrying about what happens to their loved ones when they can no longer cope.”

A breakdown of the figures shows that in Cork, there are 2,041 carers aged 65 to 69 years, with 1,487 aged 70 to 74 years, and 1,083 aged 75 to 79. There are 565 people caring who are aged 80 to 84, and 310 carers aged 85 and over.