In March, we reported on the absolute devastation that COVID had on the country’s aged care homes – now the fall out.

Reuters reports business is booming for home care providers as families look away from residential care which was hit hard during the first wave of the pandemic.

One provider says its clients have increased from 9,000 in 2019 to 25,000 this year, with its workforce almost doubling from 50,000 to 90,000.

Another home care platform said listings from families were 35% higher than prior to the pandemic.

As of mid-October, 63% or 20,649 of Spain’s 32,929 confirmed COVID deaths were among aged care residents.

However, average states subsidies for home care only provide for a couple of hours a care per week according to consumer advocates.

The Spanish Government did provide 600 million euros (AUD$978 million) to home care funding in its 2021 Budget, despite states traditionally funding these services.

With over one million Spaniards estimated to need care – and only 400,000 aged care beds – home care providers say they now expect to see demand for services – including live-in services – increase and growing private investment and consolidation in the sector.