8,847 of the 60,079 people living in Waterford in April 2022 were aged 65 or over (14.7%). The town is the State's fifth-largest settlement by population. Living alone is about as common as nationally here: 26.5% of over-65s in private households, in line with the national 25.9%. In County Waterford, 21,032 people are 65 or over, 16.5% of the county, and growth in that age group ranks 20th of the 26 counties. 23.6% of people living here have a disability and 5.4% are carers, according to Census 2022 (14,183 and 3,271 people).
For HSE purposes the area belongs to HSE Dublin and South East, within the Waterford, Wexford area. The HSE Home Support Office in Waterford is at Waterford Residential Care Centre, Johns Hill X91 XE86 (051 848 936). For a doctor after hours, callers go through Caredoc. The county list we built has 7 offices from 7 home care providers. Providers with an office here include Dovida, Bluebird Care, Right at Home and Clannad Care, with Irish Home Care also on the list for the county. A city agency usually runs several branches. Hettie applies the escalation rules branch by branch, so each branch keeps its own rota.
People leaving hospital from this area are most likely to come home from University Hospital Waterford. Specialist palliative care comes through Waterford Hospice Movement (South East Palliative Care Centre) and Waterford Community Specialist Palliative Care Team. The town's 65+ group alone numbers 8,847, enough to keep several branches busy. With 7 providers listed in County Waterford, families have choices, and an answered phone at night is something they can check for themselves. County Waterford includes Gaeltacht communities (Rinn Ó gCuanach). If some of your clients prefer Irish on the phone, say so when you speak to us and plan the service around it.