Age Action has welcomed today’s publication of the national standards for residential care settings for older people in Ireland.

“The publication of these standards is a landmark in the drive to protect the most vulnerable of our older people,” Age Action chief executive Robin Webster said. “The new standards are focused on the needs of the residents and, if stringently monitored and enforced, should raise standards of care in our nursing homes to a new level. The acid test will be how the standards protect the most vulnerable residents, such as those with dementia.”

Age Action welcomes the fact that the standards – in addition to addressing core areas issues such as health and environmental issues -- aim to protect the rights of residents, to address qualify of life issues such as autonomy and independence, and require nursing home staff to consult residents and encourage their participation in decision making.

“Age Action is satisfied that the six-year period given to nursing homes to address major structural changes such larger bedrooms and a reduction of most multi-bed wards, is more than sufficient to enable owners adapt their premises,” Mr Webster said.

“We have seen announcements in recent weeks that 90 public beds are to close in homes around the country because they do not meet the new standards. Age Action is anxious that homes are only closed as a last resort when the cost of refurbishment is prohibitive. It is rarely in the interest of older people that nursing home beds are closed or residents are forced to transfer to new homes.”

Age Action is looking forward to the commencement of independent inspections, once the Government provides the regulations to bring the new standards into force. “The commencement of the HIQA inspections will be the first time that all nursing homes -- public, private and voluntary – are inspected by independent teams,” Mr Webster noted.

The publication today of the new standards comes almost four years after the revelations of sub-standard care at the Leas Cross Nursing Home.