Dessie Ellis (Dublin North-West, Sinn Fein)

We all want the best for our elderly relatives when it comes to their care in the latter part of their lives. They have paid their taxes and contributed to the growth and prosperity of the country. The least they deserve is to have a life without worry or stress in their twilight years. Some parents are cared for by family members in their own homes or in the homes of their adult children, but when this is not possible such care is provided in nursing homes. While many elderly people can thrive in a nursing home and live a second life, the move to such a facility can be traumatic for others. The care home will understand this. A good care home will ensure that the transition from a family home to a nursing home is done with sensitivity and the greatest of care. A good nursing home will have a positive impact on the well-being and mental health of the elderly person as well as the family members who were unable to provide care in the home for their elderly relative. They can be assured that their parent will receive 24-7 care with daily living, assistance with personal care, eating and mobility, as well as medical care and supervision. A good nursing home offers peace of mind to families that their elderly relative is being cared for in a safe and supportive environment that allows them to live as independently as possible while receiving expert nursing care, rehabilitation and a range of social activities to promote engagement and social interaction including outings, entertainments and hobbies. It will have trained nurses providing specialised care, including wound care, administering medications and managing chronic conditions. It should also provide rehabilitation programmes to help residents to improve mobility.

A priority of nursing homes is to provide a safe and secure environment for the elderly resident. As Ireland has a growing elderly population, nursing homes form a crucial part of the healthcare system by providing long-term care for those who need it. When any part of this falls down, the impact will be traumatic for the residents and their families. Unfortunately, as we saw from the recent “RTÉ Investigates” programme, in nursing homes and in particular in Beneavin Manor in my constituency of Dublin North-West, the quality of care is not the same in every nursing home. The RTÉ report has raised important questions about the adequacy of care received in this particular nursing home. It is clear from the investigation that Beneavin Manor has failed in the provision of a quality care service to residents. The investigation has raised serious questions about whether residents’ needs are being properly met.

A big problem with private nursing homes is the high turnover of staff which can also impact the staff-to-resident ratio. Staff can be overworked. If the nursing home is understaffed, it will struggle to provide personalised care, which can result in inadequate care for the resident. A 2021 study found there was an average turnover rate of 27% among nursing home staff. However, private and voluntary nursing homes experienced even higher turnover rates of 38% for nurses and 54% for healthcare assistants. The many reasons for this high turnover of staff include low pay in the sector, poor training opportunities, lack of personal development or career progression and very challenging work-life balance in the sector. These factors impact on staff morale and have the knock-on effect of impacting on the care for the elderly resident.

The factors that contributed to the scandalous care of one particular resident in Beneavin Manor, whose story featured in the RTÉ investigation, are laid out in the HIQA report into the nursing home. This report raised concerns around the provision of care in the home and its risk management. It also highlighted the need to address issues relating to record management systems, such as contracts for services, food and nutrition, resident protection, information for residents, infection control and the use of restrictive practices.

Our vulnerable elderly citizens need to be protected. Over the years we have had too many nursing home scandals. It is also scandalous that we are still waiting for the enactment of the Adult Safeguarding Bill 2024, which will establish the national adult safeguarding authority. This Bill and the new authority will help to safeguard adults who are at risk of harm and abuse, provide mechanisms for reporting incidents and protect the rights of adults in vulnerable situations. We cannot rely on HIQA. There needs to be a mandatory reporting of abuse. Social care teams must have a legal right to entry to investigate complaints. Our senior citizens need to be protected. Families need to know that their elderly relatives are receiving the care and respect they deserve in their later years.

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