At the moment, there is no issue with bed space for older people, and as long as the current levels of development continue, this situation should continue into the future. But the cost of sites (which are not included in the government's capital allowances) and the possible closures of existing private nursing homes could have a knock-on effect - particularly in the major urban areas, where land costs are the most expensive.

This could be an issue for the future, as especially urban based older people may find themselves having to move outside of the city to avail of bed space. The Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home, which was produced by the Irish Nursing Homes Organisation (INHO), suggests first and foremost that people should try to find a nursing home in their areas - and this could become more difficult if there are not enough beds near to where a person lives.

Nevertheless, according to the guide, there are a number of questions that people should ask, whether they are looking for a home for themselves, or looking for a home for their elderly relatives (it is suggested for these people that they involve the relative who will be living in the home in the process as much as possible). And, as is the case in many areas of choice, the first recommendation of the guide is to visit as many nursing homes as possible.

"Enquire about any issue that you feel is important in the decision making process, " said Tadgh Daly, CEO of the INHO.

"Enquire about the staff 's training. Try to get a copy of the most recent inspection report.

Do all that you need to do to get a feel for the home, and ask how the home meets the need of your loved one."

While the levels of nursing home care have risen hugely over the past number of years (and the fact that there have been a few scandals does point to a better inspection process), it is important to remember that some homes will be better suited to you or your loved one's needs than others.

"You might have a situation where a home has a large number of highly dependent occupants, but your relative might be relatively active, and would prefer a home that has more activities, " said Pat Durcan, Chairman of the Federation of Irish Nursing Homes (FINH), which represents the nursing homes in the greater Dublin area (there are about 6,000 people in the private and voluntary sector in the region).

"But at the other end of the scale, your relative could suffer from particular ailments which one home is better at dealing with than another. Relatives should be aware of these factors before choosing a home."

There is even a relatively new concept which has come to Ireland, which could be of significant benefit especially for the more active people who require care. Ireland is suddenly seeing the development of new "Retirement Villages, " such as Sonas Group, Middletown House in Wexford and the Corrandulla Nursing Home in Galway. All of these offer more independent living, but give the residents the reassurance of backup care when and if required.

Nevertheless, whatever levels of care that people will need, there are other, general questions which need to be asked.

Questions such as "is the nursing home certified?", "is there a bed available, or is there a waiting list?", and "is the nursing home easy to visit?" Are there enough staff? Is there enough security? Does the nursing home have an arrangement with a nearby hospital? All of these questions, and a whole host more, will help people in choosing the right home for them or their relatives.

There are other areas which also need to be addressed, although these are less to do with which nursing home to choose, and more to do with how to go about the whole undertaking. For example, how will the fees be paid? Can the person's pension cover the payment, or should a relative pay for them? Because, although they are tax deductible, fees can also be substantial, and this tax is only deductible against income, rather than against capital. So selling a property to pay for the home might not make as much sense as a relative picking up the bill, with any assets instead going into the person's estate.

People should also find out what sorts of state supports and subventions are available.

A recent FINH study showed that 50% of people in the Dublin area paid entirely for themselves, 25% paid substantially It is 100 years since Alzheimer's disease was first identified, and there are currently 35,000 people living with the disease in Ireland.

There is already a great need for community based services and support for people with dementia, and the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland is constantly striving to meet these needs.

You can support the Society, which provides better home care, day care and respite services for people with dementia, by taking part in the annual Alzheimer's Tea Day Campaign on May 4.

Funds raised from the tea parties will be directed towards dementia services in the local community where the money was raised. Special Tea Packs for those willing to host an Alzheimer Tea Day Party are available by registering on freephone 1800 719 820.

for themselves, and the remainder were almost entirely covered by the state.

"If a person has no means, there is a state subvention, and although this will not fully cover the costs, it will help substantially, " said Durcan. "So people should find out about all of their entitlements. There are even legal questions to be asked, such as whether a family member should assume power of attorney, or whether the person should become a ward of court."

For the full information pack from the INHO, call 01 4291843 or e-mail info@inho. ie