Could care co-operatives be an answer to Ireland's home care crisis?

25 Mar 2024

An article by Carol Power and Caroline Crowley highlights Ireland's growing home care crisis, driven by an ageing population and a shortage of care workers due to poor pay, conditions, and high stress in for-profit systems. Co-operative care models, like Dublin's Great Care Co-op, present a promising alternative, offering worker-led, high-quality care and reinvesting surpluses into services rather than profit. For these co-operatives to help solve Ireland's care challenges, the State must support their development while ensuring they remain independent.