THE number of elderly people in Cos Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare is expected to exceed 176,000 by 2011, according to the Eastern Health Board.
The number of people over the age of 65 would represent 12.5 per cent of the population in these regions, Mr P.J. Fitzpatrick, the EHB's chief executive, said yesterday.
"We have to continue now to plan and develop services to meet this critical need and we must pay particular attention to the development of services for the confused elderly and those with Alzheimer's."
Speaking at a special EHB meeting, he said significant progress had been made in the board's four year action plan to provide services for the elderly.
Progress made by the EHB in the past 12 months included:
. The opening of Cuan Ros, a new £1.1 million 46 bed community unit for the elderly at Navan Road, Dublin.
. The completion of a 25 bed community unit for the elderly, together with a day care unit at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin.
. The development of a 25 bed long stay unit for the elderly at Peamount Hospital, Dublin.
. A new day service at Naas General Hospital, Co Kildare.
. The number of community ward teams - where care is provided for patients discharged from acute hospitals - has been increased to 17, and three more will be provided this month.
. A community rehabilitation/ stroke service will be opened in Baggot Street Hospital, Dublin, later this month.
The EHB also spends more than £10 million on subventions to 2,447 people in nursing homes.