Nursing Homes at Tipping Point as Wages Rise and Staff Look for Better Work-Life Balance - 09/12/2025

Wage rises and competition for staff may be a tipping point for some smaller nursing homes next year, a new recruitment agency analysis warns.Excel Healthcare 2026 Salary Guide said costs for private nursing homes are increasing by 10pc.Pay alone is not enough to attract and retain staff, and sign-on bonuses and recognition that more want greater work-life balance will be features for employers next year, the report said.Martina Young, director of Excel Healthcare, said: “Several smaller homes have closed in recent years due to the Fair Deal Scheme’s failure to keep pace with inflation.“The ESRI has projected a requirement for 60pc more long-term care beds and home support hours by 2040.”Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.