BDO Ireland and Nursing Homes Ireland are pleased to present the third Private & Voluntary Nursing Homes Pulse Survey Report, supported by Bank of Ireland.
Ireland’s private and voluntary nursing home sector continues to operate at near full capacity within a constrained supply environment, while navigating persistent workforce shortages and rising cost pressures.
This report provides key insights into these challenges and identifies actions required to support the sector.
We are pleased to present the June 2026 edition of the Nursing Homes Ireland and BDO Private and Voluntary Nursing Home Biannual Pulse Survey. This report provides an important snapshot of the operational pressures and emerging trends facing independent nursing home care across Ireland at the mid-point of this year. The findings point to continued high occupancy rates, increasing care complexity, and persistent challenges in staffing and recruitment, all of which place significant strain on care providers’ ability to meet our populations growing needs. Financial pressures also remain a key concern across the sector, with rising input costs and constrained funding impacting sustainability.
Few sectors will be as critical to the future of Ireland’s healthcare system as residential care for older people. This survey provides a timely and valuable snapshot of providers’ opportunities and challenges, with key insights for shaping the future of care in Ireland. Occupancy remains exceptionally strong, averaging 94.9%, reflecting essential demand driven by Ireland’s ageing population. However, the survey also highlights persistent pressures, including workforce sustainability, increasing care requirements, rising operating costs, and the need for continued investment in facilities and infrastructure.
