A family member of mine has been in a private and HSE homes and I can’t praise the HSE one highly enough. Just thought I’d mention it because I don’t want to turn this into HSE bad, private good (or vice versa) debate. I don’t think it matters as long as the residents are cared for properly.

This sort of story makes my blood boil. I do think there should be frequent thorough unannounced inspections of all homes. Not just ones they’re expecting and gives them advanced warning. I like the idea of advocates too. As long as they do their job properly and thoroughly.

What puzzles me is where were the families all through this? You don’t have to be a genius to know if someone has been washed or left to stew for a month.

“Grave” is the operative word. Shame a on all. Where were the regular visitors who would have noticed this carry on ?

Wonder if all nursing homes had to have an independent advocat where the patients and their relatives only could make complaints thro.this advocat.the advocat would also b on alert for patients with few or no relatives in a position to visit or air grievances for themselves ..

I work in a private nursing home and we just had an unannounced inspection by HIQA and we were praised for the level of care we were providing and the relaxed, open relationship we had with the residents. Every private nursing home is not the same and I’d prefer any of my relatives to be in a private home than HSE!

People go to nursing homes because they can’t manage at home.its a big decision and a end resort.people go for what they can afford.it is expensive .if u get it a little cheaper u think u get what u can afford so have to not complain for now .a nursing home run on a tight budget is not going to work .the pension does not cover it.children on other commitments.cant afford better . Guilt sets in after relatives death all the grief and grievances come out then..I have to say it but gov.fault again.they should subsidise care properly. What would b better brian cowens pension or 5people who can care for our elderly

This shouldn’t be about public v private nursing homes. Both probably have the best and worst within them. But the reasons they both have bad cases differ.
In this country we are being constantly encouraged to see people as economic units who are only of real value when working and paying into the system. This attitude comes from Government down and is particularly sickening when perfectly well run HSE run homes are under constant threat of losing beds and resources and therefore in danger of falling into bad practices, while private homes, often developed using tax breaks, are often only vehicles whose primary objective is investment returns and patient care a distant second.
All regulation in this area is to be welcomed but it needs to be strengthened even further as the trend goes more and more to private homes for the future.
I don’t believe this is the direction it should be going as profit shouldn’t come into the equation when it comes to care of the elderly, but given the Minister for Healths past investment preferences It not going to change under his watch.

Yep, as mentioned above, while you theoretically shouldn’t need to check nursing homes are doing their job, like with every kind of service, if you don’t check, people will cut corners, whether it’s due to a lack or work ethic or just resources being spread too thin.

I had someone in a good enough home, but even good homes can drop the ball on staffing etc. It can often just be 2 people on at night. Somebody can need help for hours before they’re seen, if they can’t remember where the bell is, or they can’t move.

I also think visits help appease the feeling they’ve been neglected and this is the end.

If Mr. Moynihan has evidence of ‘this is an ongoing problem’, what is he doing with it?
Hot air and waffle from a band wagon passenger.

Rory don’t want to monopolise this , but u should only b going to nursing home because u want to see ur mam not because u want to ensure she is cared for that should b understood .thats the care we want .