The CNS on Monday published results of its long-term insurance branch, saying that spending on services in 2021 amounted to €828.8m, compared to €847.7m in revenue. Expenses grew at a fast rate (+11.1%) than revenue (+8.5%).

The €18.9m surplus was added to the insurer’s reserves, resulting in €369.7m in funds available.

On average, around 14,496 people required long-term care last year, with one and a half times as many people receiving care at their place of residence than a nursing home. The number of people receiving long-term care rose 2.7% in 2021, the CNS said, with that number higher for at-home services (+3.6%) than at nursing homes (1.1%).

“The lower growth in institutions is partly explained by effects related to the pandemic and in particular a certain reluctance of the population to go to institutions,” the CNS said.

Family minister (DP) in July last year to oust her from office after an external report had conclude that recommendations to nursing homes during the pandemic had been unclear, leaving facilities underprepared for the infection wave that struck the country in October and November 2021.

The report had concluded that four in ten people who died after testing positive for covid-19 lived in a nursing, retirement or care home. By September last year, the latest data available, 353 care home deaths were linked to the pandemic, out of 835 covid-19 fatalities overall at the time.

Government and parliament in June and the CovidCheck regime in hospitals and care homes, at the same time to help protect vulnerable groups as the number of infections rose.