Nurses for Night Care

Thanks to your support the initial figures show that in 2026 Irish Hospice Foundation provided 2,860 Nights of Care providing free, specialist overnight nursing to people with lifelimiting illnesses who wish to be cared for at home in their final days. The service supported people with noncancer conditions such as dementia, heart disease, respiratory failure, and neurological illnesses (including motor neuron disease). 
Because of you, this care is delivered at no cost to families, making it accessible to those most in need. 

One such person that you helped is John. John was a tall, gentle man who adored his small dog, Bella, whom he had rescued from the pound years earlier and loved deeply. As his illness progressed and he grew weaker, his only wish was to spend his final days at home with Bella by his side. A Nurse for Night Care visited him through those last nights, offering comfort, pain relief, and companionship. Even as John sensed the end was near, he found peace waking to Bella’s warm presence beside him. When he died, Bella howled in grief, a heartbreaking display of her devotion—but thanks to the support of generous donors and the Night Care service, John was able to die peacefully in the place he loved most, with the friend he cherished right beside him 

The demand for Night Care is rising sharply, and the service is experiencing increasing pressure. More people are turning to the Irish Hospice Foundation as they seek dignified, homebased endoflife support. To meet the need in 2026, we expect the cost to exceed €1.25 million.  

For every €400 raised it covers a night of care and relief. On behalf of those families you help, we send you our heartfelt thanks.