Retirement Care Services

Standards

The National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (pdf) are intended to help to ensure that the needs of people living in residential accommodation are met. There is also a guide to the standards (pdf)and a leaflet on registration and inspection (pdf).

There are 32 standards, grouped into 7 sections;

The rights of residents

These include access to information, consultation and encouragement to express your views, consent to treatment and care, your right to a written contract etc.

Protection of residents

These include your protection from bullying or other abuse and safeguards around handling of your finances.

Health and social care needs

These include assessments of your health, personal and social care needs and your contribution to your care plan.

Quality of life

These include the exercise of choice and control over your life, your independence and your contact with visitors.

Staffing

These include the qualifications and vetting of staff and their supervision.

The care environment

These include the physical environment, access to the outdoors, hygiene and personal belongings.

Management and governance

These include policies and procedures covering the safety and wellbeing of residents and a wriiten statement setting out the service provided in the centre.

Residential care for people with dementia

All the standards above apply to units caring for people with dementia, as well as additional criteria. These criteria cover;

• the diagnosis of dementia
• promoting the understanding of residents and family members of the nature of dementia
• care planning and assessment for people with dementia
• the provision of person-centred care
• the use of appropriate therapies and techniques facilitating communication
  staffing arrangements, practice development and staff training, and
• the physical design, layout and configuration of dementia specific units.

Residential care for people with disabilities

In general, these standards do not apply to care services for people with disabilities. However, they do apply to services provided to younger residents with disabilites with specific needs who have been placed in residential care settings for older people.

HIQA have published National Quality Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities but they do not yet have a statutory basis. The HSE has committed to start to implement the standards on a non-statutory basis, within existing resources.