Ageing Population: Are We Sleepwalking Into One Of The Biggest Social And Healthcare Challenges In History?

Ireland is facing a major demographic shift, with more than one million people expected to be over the age of 65 by the end of this decade, while the population aged 85 and over is projected to grow by 162% by 2045. Nursing Homes Ireland is warning that the country is running out of time to prepare, saying we need a national conversation about how we will provide care and support for an ageing population. For a GP's perspective on this, Alan Morrissey spoke with with the Lahinch-based member of the IMO's GP Committee, Dr Michael Kelleher. Alan was also joined by Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, to discuss the scale of the challenge, the pressure on nursing-home capacity, and what needs to happen to prepare for the years ahead. Image (c) by Mbie Debby from Pexels via Canva.