Ashbourne, a Meath town close to the Dublin border, recorded 15,680 residents at the last census. 8.3% of them, 1,305 people, were 65 or older. 5,651 over-65s in County Meath live on their own, 21.8% of those in private households and 4.1 points below the national 25.9%. In County Meath, 27,059 people are 65 or over, 12.3% of the county, and growth in that age group ranks 2nd of the 26 counties. In the town itself, 2,705 people (17.3%) reported a disability and 702 (4.5%) gave regular unpaid care to someone.
This part of the country comes under HSE Dublin and North East and the Louth Meath Integrated Health Area. For HSE home support, the office to know is the HSE Home Support Office in Meath, at St Joseph's Community Unit Complex, Patrick Street, Trim C15 P592 (046 948 4406). For a doctor after hours, callers go through NEDOC. County Meath has 10 home care offices on the lists we compiled in October 2026, from 10 names. Offices in the town on the list belong to Caremark, with Dovida, Bluebird Care, Comfort Keepers and Platinum Home Care also on the list for the county. Swords is 13 km away in a straight line, so an agency serving one town is likely to be asked about the other.
On the HSE hospital list, the acute sites for the area are Beaumont Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital Navan. For palliative care, see Meath Community Specialist Palliative Care Team. Fewer than most places, perhaps, but the older residents here are the ones whose families are least likely to be nearby. A new agency can start with the after-hours line alone and add welcome calls and visit coordination when the client list grows. County Meath includes Gaeltacht communities (Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib). If some of your clients prefer Irish on the phone, say so when you speak to us and plan the service around it.