Planning sought for south Tipperary nursing home extension as number of older people predicted to hit 35,000 by 2030
As a nursing home in Carrick-on-Suir seeks planning permission for an 11-bed extension in Carrick-on-Suir, it is noted that in just four years the number of over-65s in the county is expected to hit 35,000
Planning permission is being sought for an eleven-bedroom extension to Greenhills Nursing Home in Carrick-on-Suir, with a dining room, quiet room, a nurses station, and other necessary ancillary rooms.
All eleven rooms are to be en-suite, and the new dining room, multi-purpose room, and quiet room will provide almost 88m2 of extra communal space for the residents. An enclosed internal courtyard will provide further communal space, and there are plans for nine more car parking spaces, two with EV charging points.
Residential nursing care in the town is provided by only two facilities, Greenhills Nursing Home and Sonas Nursing Home, Carrickbeg, each with about 55 beds. This eleven-bed extension will increase the capacity of Greenhills to 65 beds.
The 16-bed step-down unit and three palliative care suites at St Brigid’s Hospital closed in early 2020, further reducing local care capacity.
In making the case for the development, the applicants refer to the Council’s development plan which notes up to 27% of older people in Tipperary “live alone in houses unsuited to their needs”.
In 2016, there were 24,398 persons aged 65 and over in County Tipperary, 15.3% of the population, compared with 13.4% for the State. This figure is estimated to rise to approximately 35,000 by 2030, and the old-age dependency ratio in the county is 24.1%, against a State average of 20.4%.
Nearly 28% of older people in the county live alone, and Carrick-on-Suir is one of the five towns in the county with the largest older populations, alongside Clonmel, Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea.
The application also notes that the population of the Carrick-on-Suir aged over 65 grew by 31% between 2016 and 2022, “well above the county and State rates of increase”, and a higher-than-average share of residents (28.4%) report at least one long-lasting condition.
A decision on the planning application, which was lodged on October 24th, is due by December 18th.