Planning for the future of social care

Care is more than a policy issue. It is a lived reality for thousands of families, carers, and clients across Ireland. My own journey in care began in childhood, visiting my Nana in a nursing home and has continued through my work with Home & Community Care Ireland (HCCI). Those early experiences taught me that the moments which matter most are often small acts: a cup of tea, a helping hand, a familiar voice. Yet, as our society ages, the challenge is to ensure that these acts of compassion are supported by systems that work for people.

Demographic shift

Ireland, like much of the world, is experiencing a demographic shift. By the 2050s, a quarter of our population will be over sixty-five, and the number of people aged eighty and older will rise sharply. This is not just a matter for health or social care; it is a structural transformation that will affect how we design housing, transport, and community life. The question before us is whether we treat ageing as a burden to be managed, or as an opportunity to renew our commitment to dignity, participation, and choice. 

Recent years have seen progress. Home support in Ireland has moved from being underfunded and overlooked to a sector with growing momentum for reform. The pandemic highlighted the resilience of home support clients and the dedication of carers. We have seen improvements in pay, regulation, and procurement, with organisations like Dovida playing a driving role. Yet, challenges remain particularly in workforce recruitment and retention, and in addressing fragmentation within the system. 

International experience offers useful lessons. Wales, for example, has legislated for long-term thinking in social care, requiring public bodies to consider the impact of decisions on future generations. New Zealand’s wellbeing budgeting framework and Australia’s rights-based approach to aged care show how policy can be shaped to prioritise outcomes that matter to people. The European Union’s Social Rights Action Plan reminds us that dignity and participation are core to the social contract. 

Legal right to care

For Ireland, the task is to adapt these lessons to our own context. We need a Social Development Plan that puts a legal right to care at its centre, supports carers as professionals, and integrates services around the person. Transparent metrics and multi-year funding can help ensure that progress is measured and sustained. 

Above all, we must keep the purpose human. The stories of clients and carers remind us of what is at stake. As we reflect on the ideas shared at the Innovation in Home Support Conference, let us consider how we can build a system that honours resilience, values contribution, and ensures dignity for all. 

Joseph Musgrave is Chief Executive Officer of Home & Community Care Ireland (HCCI), the voice for home and community care providers across Ireland.