Revised quality standards for older people in nursing homes and residential care settings in Ireland.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) have published “National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland” which came into effect on the 1st of July 2016. The new standard supersedes all previous standards for residential care settings, including nursing homes, in Ireland and apply to residential and residential respite services for older people whether they are public, private or voluntary bodies or organisations.
The 2016 Standards, 35 in total, are presented under eight key areas called themes which aim to improve services for people living in nursing homes. The eight themes are:
- Person-centred Care and Support
- Effective Services
- Safe Services
- Health and Wellbeing
- Leadership, Governance and Management
- Use of Resources
- Responsive Workforce
- Use of Information.
Standards that directly impact accessibility and the built environment include for example: theme no. 2 - Effective Services, which focuses on how nursing homes deliver best outcomes for residents and consists of 8 requirements describing either an outcome or what the nursing home should be providing to demonstrate compliance with the standard. For example:
- Standard 2.6 - The residential service is homely and accessible and provides adequate physical space to meet each resident’s assessed needs.
- Standard 2.7 - The design and layout of the residential service is suitable for its stated purpose. All areas in the premises meet the privacy, dignity and wellbeing of each resident.
Each standard is further broken down into features (examples of what service providers may consider in order to demonstrate compliance with the standard). Individual standard features that directly impact accessibility and the built environment include:
- 2.6.1 The living environment is designed to promote the independence of residents, and the residential service adheres to evidence-based practice and national legislation in achieving and promoting accessibility.
- 2.7.9 En-suite facilities in rooms accommodating residents using wheelchairs or other aids, are accessible to these residents.
For further details in relation to the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland click here.
To find out more on how OHAC can assist you to improve the accessibility of your nursing home in accordance with current best practices, including HIQA National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland 2016, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on 01 – 4151285 or e-mail [email protected].
