Aged Care

Public and private nursing home providers play a central role in caring for our ageing population. Although this sector has been regulated by HIQA since 2009, there is an ongoing need for providers to maintain regulatory compliance with regulations such as the SI 415 and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland. Nursing homes must also be prepared for thematic inspections from HIQA which assess compliance against the relevant national standards for the particular thematic programme such as restrictive practices.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also brought about an increased regulatory focus, especially around IPC (infection prevention and control), governance, staffing, training, and policies and procedures.

To maintain high standards of safe care, it is critical that providers have a Quality and Safety Management System in place to drive quality improvements and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance.

In addition, residential care settings such as nursing homes may seek accreditation to demonstrate their long-term commitment to resident safety and operational excellence.