A Longford age activist believes families are forced to put loved ones into nursing homes due to a lack of home care support.
The HSE has today revealed around two million home-help hours won't be delivered this year as a result of staff shortages.
Latest figures also show almost 5,100 people are on a waiting list for support.
Des Skelly is Chairperson of the Longford Older People's network, he says the Health Service must employ more care assistants and pay them appropriately.
The Longford native claims a number of people have had their hours reduced in recent months.
''It's not getting any easier in actual fact some of the people's hours have been cut. Some were getting an hour and are only getting approximately a half an hour now if they have to shower them are that I mean, they need an hour most of them would like a shower twice a week but can only happen once a week.''
