Sonas Nursing Home

What Sonas Nursing Home does

Sonas Nursing Home is a privately held Irish residential care provider operating under the Sonas Group brand, founded in 2001 by Seamus Crawley, John Mangan and Gerry Jordan. It operates 12 nursing homes across 7 counties (Carlow, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Westmeath) with approximately 57-58 beds per home, delivering long-term residential care, dementia care, convalescent and respite care, palliative care, day care, physiotherapy and structured activities programmes. Care is built around individualised care plans revised every four months, supported by full-time chartered physiotherapists, trained activities coordinators delivering the ImaginationGym methodology, and a Quality of Life Committee that gives residents a governance role.

The company generates revenue primarily through weekly residential care fees funded via the HSE Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal), with resident contributions calculated as 80% of assessable income plus 7.5% of asset value annually, and the HSE paying the balance up to National Treatment Fund agreed maximum prices. Private-paying residents and VHI Healthcare insurance holders (covering convalescent stays of 1-12 weeks) provide supplementary revenue streams, and ancillary services such as hairdressing, chiropody, optician, occupational therapy and dentistry are billed per session. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the HSE approved nursing home list, GP referrals, family enquiries, and operational marketing through the Sonas.ie website, Facebook, community open days, and earned media from national healthcare awards.

The company remains founder-owned with active leadership from the original founders, no disclosed external institutional investment, no acquisitions, and no subsidiaries. Operational governance includes HIQA compliance, GDPR, Investors in Diversity Bronze accreditation, and partnerships with VHI Healthcare, SAGE Advocates and ImaginationGym. Award recognition includes the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards 2025 and 2026 (including Nursing Home / Residential Care Home of the Year – Private at Belmullet, Facilities Team of the Year, Best Customer Experience) and Sunday Independent Ireland's Best Employers 2025 & 2026. Revenue and headcount are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sonas Nursing Home

Legal name

Sonas Group

Website

https://sonas.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Sonas Nursing Home is a privately held Irish nursing home operator running 12 facilities across 7 counties, delivering long-term residential, dementia, convalescent, palliative and day care funded primarily through the HSE Fair Deal Scheme, private payers and VHI insurance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Nursing Home Care

NAICS

Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Long-Term Care Nursing Homes (Custodial LTC) (HLADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nursing Homes (Non-SNF) (HLAFAFAC), Dementia & Alzheimer’s Respite Care (HSABAGAF)

Keywords

• Residential nursing care
• Elderly care services
• Dementia care
• Convalescent care
• Palliative care

Headquarters

HQ city

Athlone

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Residential Care Fees: Weekly fees charged to residents for long-term nursing home care. Contributions are calculated based on the HSE's Financial Assessment under the Fair Deal Scheme (80% of income + 7.5% of assets annually). Residents pay their assessed contribution directly, with HSE paying the balance.
2. Respite and Convalescent Care: Short-term care services for individuals recovering from surgery or illness. Length of stay varies from one week to twelve weeks. VHI Healthcare registered, with insurance plans contributing towards certain levels of convalescence stay.
3. Day Care Services: Day care centre services where individuals can spend days (9am-5pm) participating in activities and receiving care without overnight stay.
4. Additional Services: Extra services including hairdressing, chiropody, optician visits, occupational therapy, dentist appointments. Additional fees incurred per session or service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sonas Nursing Homes operates 12 nursing homes across seven counties in Ireland providing long-term residential care, specialist dementia care, convalescent and respite care, palliative care, day care services, and on-site chartered physiotherapy to older persons and individuals recovering from illness or surgery. The company is registered with the HSE under the Fair Deal Scheme, accepts private paying residents, and is VHI Healthcare registered for insurance-based convalescent claims. Each home delivers care through individualised person-centred care plans, full activity programmes, and a six-core-value operating philosophy of Empathy, Advocacy, Warmth, Energy, Empowerment, and Teamwork.

Product overview

Sonas Nursing Homes is a nursing home operator offering a portfolio of care services across 12 nursing home locations in Ireland. The core care services include Dementia Care, Long Term Residential Care, Convalescent Care, Activities Programme, Physiotherapy Programme, and Palliative Care. These services are delivered through individual nursing home locations across seven counties: Carlow, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Westmeath. Additional services include Day Care Centres, hairdressing, and arrangements for external professional services. The organization provides support for the Fair Deal Scheme (NHSS) for funding nursing home care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sonas Nursing Home Belmullet: Award-winning nursing home located in Belmullet, Co. Mayo, winning Nursing Home / Residential Care Home of the Year at Irish Healthcare Centre Awards 2026.
• Ashborough
• Belmullet
• Ard na Greine

Products and services

• Long Term Residential Care Secure, comfortable permanent living arrangements in a professionally managed, safe and homely setting with personalised care plans developed for each resident requiring ongoing daily nursing and personal care support.
• Dementia Care Specialist dementia care provided by trained staff with in-house and external training in dementia care, creating a warm, safe, and supportive environment with cognitive stimulation for residents with dementia, Alzheimer's, and cognitive decline.
• Convalescent Care Respite and post-operative rehabilitative care designed to assist individuals with recuperation and recovery after surgery or serious illness, with flexible stay duration from one week to twelve weeks.
• Palliative Care End-of-life care focused on ensuring comfort, dignity, and quality of life for residents with life-limiting conditions, with support for both residents and their families.
• Physiotherapy Programme Full-time chartered physiotherapist services providing exercise and rehabilitation programmes customised to individual resident needs including arthritis, stroke recovery, and mobility issues.
• Activities Programme Full activity programme including group and one-on-one activities such as arts and crafts, bingo, music, gardening, exercise classes, day trips, and ImaginationGym sessions designed to promote physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
• Day Care Centre Day care services at selected homes where older persons living independently in the community can spend the day (9am–5pm) participating in activities, receiving meals, and socialising while returning home in the evenings.
• Fair Deal Scheme Support Assistance with the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal) application process, including care needs assessment and financial assessment guidance to help residents access HSE funding.
• Additional Services Ancillary services including hairdressing, chiropody, optician, occupational therapy, dietician, and dentist appointments arranged through trusted external professionals with additional fees incurred per session.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residents maintain independence through supportive care that is not restrictive, with physiotherapy and occupational therapy enabling continued independence
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VHI HealthcarecoreOthersAll Sonas nursing homes are registered with VHI Healthcare. VHI insurance holders can claim towards convalescence stay costs under certain insurance plans. This partnership provides an additional payment pathway for residents with private health insurance.
• SAGE AdvocatesminorOthersSAGE provides independent advocacy services for all Sonas residents. This ensures residents have access to independent support for complaints or concerns, separate from internal complaints procedures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mowlam Healthcare: Largest Irish-owned nursing home group operating dozens of residential and dementia care homes across Ireland. Directly comparable in service mix (long-term, convalescent, dementia, palliative), HSE Fair Deal participation, and founder/operator ownership model.
• Brindley Healthcare: Irish nursing home operator with multiple residential and dementia care homes. Comparable HSE-approved provider offering long-term, respite and convalescent care, competing for the same Fair Deal-funded resident pool as Sonas.
• Newpark Healthcare: Irish nursing home operator focused on residential, dementia and respite care. Direct competitor for HSE-approved beds, with overlapping patient mix and geographic overlap in the Irish midlands and west.
• Beechfield Care Group: Irish operator of nursing homes and retirement villages providing long-term residential, dementia and convalescent care. Direct competitor for HSE-approved residents with overlapping midlands/eastern geography and similar scale of multi-home portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Bupa Ireland: Irish arm of global healthcare group Bupa, operating nursing homes and care villages across Ireland. Broader incumbent with deeper capital base, international brand, and overlapping Fair Deal / private-pay service offering.
• Orpea (Emera): Major European nursing home and long-term care operator (now Emera following restructuring). Comparable business model in residential and specialist dementia care, with greater scale and capital access across European markets.
• Korian (Clariane): Pan-European operator of nursing homes, assisted living, and home care services (rebranded as Clariane). Comparable in long-term residential, dementia, and post-acute care service lines, with broader geographic and capital diversification.
• DomusVi: One of the largest European nursing home and senior care operators, with facilities across France, Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Comparable in long-term residential, dementia and palliative care delivery, with significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Home Instead Senior Care Ireland: Leading provider of in-home personal care services for older adults in Ireland. Adjacent rather than direct competitor, but represents a substitute for families weighing home care versus nursing home placement, and shares the same aging-Ireland demand driver.
• Bluebird Care Ireland: National home care provider offering personal care, dementia support and respite services in clients' own homes. Adjacent competitor for low-to-mid acuity demand that might otherwise flow to nursing home beds.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SonasNursingHomes
• Xx.com/sonasgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonas-nursing-homes

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sonas Nursing Home