Group calls for Government action on nursing homes
Age Action has today called on the Government to implement better standards in Ireland's nursing homes after today's revelations.
Papers obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that almost 50 complaints of abuse, poor care and neglect have been upheld against nursing homes in counties Cork and Kerry.
“Age Action believes that the 32 standards and announced in 2007 need to be implemented in full within the next Dáil term as a matter of urgency, and HIQA be allowed to commence inspecting care institutions,” said a spokesperson.
“We also believe that these standards need to be strengthened in relation to the ratio between professional staff and residential numbers, taking in consideration the care needs of residents. All staff providing care to older people needs to be trained to a sufficient and nationally recognised standard.
“It is three years since the nation were horrified to learn of the maltreatment of older people in Leas Cross and the government promised swift action to prevent such abuses happening again. Three years later we are still waiting for that action to be finalised.
“The human rights of older people continue to be abused in our nursing homes.”
