Nursing Homes Ireland is pleased to partner with the All Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association (AIGNA), UCD and University of Ulster in this research. As in most other nations, life expectancy in Ireland has been increasing steadily in recent decades.

This is a very welcome development for society and reflects improvements in quality of life, healthcare and treatment of conditions. Coupled with the changes in demography are increased challenges in the provision of health and social care services, particularly residential care. Census 2011 confirms the continuing trend of numbers growing older and living longer, revealing the population aged 65+ increased a significant 14.4% over the preceding five year period, and numbers residing in nursing homes grew 21.8%, from 21,553 to 26,265.

The results of this study can play a lead role in informing and educating key stakeholders and wider society as to the role of nursing expertise in residential care. As the research advises, “this study illuminates the ordinary, the invisible and taken for granted expertise inherent in the practice wisdom of nursing in residential care”.

Read more here.