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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 17 August 2008 |
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A national audit of stroke care was carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation in association with the Department of Health and Children. It was published in April 2008. A Nursing Home Survey was included as part of its research. The report confirmed the impression of professional working in the field that services in Ireland are so poorly organised that they are ineffective. It identified the following problems: - - Stroke units are virtually non-existent—only one hospital has such a unit
- A tiny fraction of patients who might benefit from acute interventions such as thrombolysis are assessed for this therapy
- Acute rehabilitation is only available to one in four patients or is delayed beyond the point at which it is most effective
- Continuing care and long-term recovery programmes are haphazardly organised or do not exist
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 27 March 2008 |
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The adverse publicity given to individual nursing homes over recent years; uncertainty regarding future standards, combined with the site value of nursing home sites in urban areas persuaded many proprietors to consider exiting the nursing home sector. The closure of a number of homes, particularly in the larger urban areas, has taken place at a time when there is increased demand for nursing home beds. An important additional factor is the increasing number of elderly in our population. It is estimated that up 6% of the over 65 age population in 2006 are availing of community residential care. |
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Written by Martin Hynes
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
The Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Long Term Care (2006), published in January 2008, suggests that a target of 4% of people over 65 in long term residential care should be achievable in the medium term if appropriate community care services are in place. An earlier report by Mercer estimated that 4.6% of the population were in long term care.
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Written by Martin Hynes
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Sunday, 17 February 2008 |
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There are 450 voluntary and private nursing homes with approximately 18,000 beds with a further 10,000 beds in public homes. A number of proprietors of private nursing homes, in the larger urban areas, have exited the sector for a variety of reasons including the commercial value of their nursing home sites. This has led to a shortage of beds close to where older people have lived for most of their lives. |
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Written by Martin Hynes
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008 |
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The older person has a right to continue to make decisions about personal aspects of his or her daily life; financial affairs and possessions; to maintain his or her personal independence, which includes recognition of personal responsibility for his or her own actions or choices including those within which there is a degree of personal risk. Entering a nursing home can be, and usually is, traumatic for the older person and their family. Many raw emotions are experienced. Some are fortunate to have time to plan the move to a nursing home and have the opportunity to visit a number of homes and make choices. |
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