Devon could face a shortfall of more than 10,600 elderly care home beds by 2035
Devon could face a short of more than 10,600 elderly care home beds by 2035, a market insight report warns.
Christie & Co’s South West Healthcare Market Insight report forecasts Devon could face a shortfall of more than 10,600 fit-for-purpose elderly care home beds by 2035.
Data from the Devon Care Homes Collaborative and leading business agents, Christie & Co, also shows 25 care and nursing homes closed across the county between 2021 and 2025, resulting in the loss of around 555 beds.
A similar number of beds have opened in purpose-built ‘hotel-style’ homes over the same period, but industry leaders say they do not fully replace the smaller, bespoke community-based homes that have been lost.
The managing director of Southern Healthcare care group, Geoffrey Cox said: “The adult social care sector has been overlooked for decades. It’s imperative the Government – at national and regional level – supports people needing specialist care and acts swiftly to protect more care and nursing homes from closing,” he said.
At the same time, Devon care home providers are warning the care sector is facing intolerable pressure following mounting financial, operational and regulatory pressures.
Meanwhile, statistics show an increasing demand for care at home as well as specialist dementia and nursing homes.
Recent care and nursing home closures include Frensham House in Brixham, Shandford Care Home in Budleigh Salterton and Ermington House, Ivybridge. All said they were forced to close because of inflationary pressures, unsustainable operating costs and concerns over long-term viability.
Mr Cox, who owns four family-run nursing homes in Devon, said the county faces ‘acute challenges’ driven by its ageing population, rurality and recruitment difficulties in a tourism-led economy.
“Care home providers in Devon face unusually severe pressures because the county has one of England’s oldest populations,” he said. “Local authority funding remains another critical issue, as current fee rates typically fail to cover the true cost of care.”
He added that rising wages, energy bills and compliance requirements were straining finances.
“At the same time, demand is rising sharply as residents entering nursing homes present with more complex health needs, requiring higher staffing levels and specialist expertise,” Mr Cox said.
Sector experts caution that modern buildings alone will not resolve the crisis. Safe, high-quality care still depends on staffing levels, workplace culture, training, leadership and sustainable funding.
Care providers are urging immediate action to close the growing gap between care needs and available provision, including proper council funding and a long-term plan for adult social care.
