The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published the 'Statistics on Community Care for Adults in Northern Ireland 2014 - 2015' statistical bulletin.
The publication reports on activity data analysed by health and social care (HSC) trust. It also includes trend analysis over the past five years.
Key facts and figures:
Contacts with HSC trusts
- Between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015, 30,108 persons in the elderly care, learning disability and physical & sensory disability programmes of care (POC’s) were in contact with HSC trusts in Northern Ireland.
- Over a third of the 30,108 contacts with HSC trusts were by persons in the elderly care POC (36%), a third were by persons in the physical & sensory disability (33%) POC and almost a third were by persons in the learning disability (31%) POC.
- Of those persons in contact with HSC yrusts whose age was known (30,102), 11,861 (39%) were aged 65 and over.
Care packages in effect
- At 30 June 2015, 12,260 residential and nursing home care packages were in effect in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 2% since 30 June 2014.
- Of the 12,260 care packages in effect, over two thirds (70%) were nursing home care packages and under one third (30%) were residential care packages.
- Over four fifths (81%) of care packages were in effect in the elderly care POC.
- The vast majority (89%) of residential and nursing home care packages were provided by the private sector. The voluntary and statutory sectors provided much smaller proportions of residential and nursing home care packages (7% and 4% respectively).
Meals on wheels services
- At 31 March 2015, 2,800 persons were in receipt of meals on wheels services in Northern Ireland. This was 301 (10%) less than the number in receipt at the end of the previous year and 1,445 (34%) less than the number in receipt four years ago.
- Almost nine in ten (88%) persons receiving a meals on wheels service were aged 65 and over. This comprised of 17% aged 65 - 74, 36% aged 75 - 84 and 35% aged 85 & over.
Residential & nursing accommodation
- At 30 June 2015, there were 5,212 residential places available in Northern Ireland. This was a very small (<1%) increase from the number of residential places available at 30 June 2014 (5,192) and a decrease of 13% since 30 June 2011 (5,992).
- Of the 5,212 residential places available, almost three in five (58%) were in the independent sector while just over one in five were in the statutory sector and nursing homes (22% and 21% respectively).
- At 30 June 2015, there were 10,854 available nursing care beds in Northern Ireland. This was a very small (<1%) increase from the number of nursing care beds available at 30 June 2014 (10,846) and an increase of 10% since 30 June 2011 (9,833).
- Of the 10,854 nursing care beds available, almost three in five (56%) were in the independent sector, over two in five (43%) were in dual registered homes and only a small proportion (0.2%) were in the statutory sector.
Day care registrations
- At 31 March 2015, 8,194 persons were registered at statutory day care facilities in Northern Ireland. This was 60 (1%) less than the number registered at the end of the previous year and 66 (1%) less than the number registered four years ago.
- Of those persons registered at statutory day care facilities whose age was known (6,748), almost two thirds (62%) were aged under 65 and over one third (38%) were aged 65 and over.
- Of those persons registered at statutory day care facilities whose POC was known (7,994), almost half (43%) had a learning disability while a small proportion (3%) had no material disablement.
Notes to editors:
- This information was collated by community information branch within the DHSSPS.
- This bulletin is published on an annual basis.
- Statistics detailed within the bulletin include contacts with HSC trusts, residential and nursing care packages in effect, meals on wheels, residential and nursing accommodation and day care registrations. Analyses are presented by HSC trust.
- Figures incorporate all returns and amendments received from HSC trusts up to 4 August 2015.
- This publication is available online
- Further information is available from Community Information Branch
- Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt