A document by a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults has identified poor practice in nursing homes during the first wave of Covid-19.
Sage Advocacy said the pandemic has exposed how Ireland's current long-term support and care system, with its high reliance on residential nursing homes, has been "totally inadequate" to safeguard vulnerable, older people.
The document titled Choice Matters draws attention to the impact of visitor restrictions from early March on nursing home residents, particularly those with reduced decision making capacity.
It is based primarily on analysis of feedback and reflections from Sage Advocacy's frontline personnel who have continued to provide support and advocacy services throughout the pandemic.
Choice Matters described a two-tier health and social care system, which it says cannot meet the growing demands for long term care in an ageing society.
Key issues highlighted in the discussion document include; inadequate clinical oversight in private nursing homes, a lack of any protocols between the HSE and the private nursing home sector and the continued use of multi-occupancy rooms and outmoded premises in some nursing homes.
Sage Advocacy said older people should be cared for in a place of their choice, which for the great majority of people is home.
Meaningful consideration has not been given to the Expert Review Panel report on Nursing Homes which was published in August and aims to safeguard residents, according to the former Chairperson of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 Michael McNamara.
Launching the discussion document by Sage Advocacy, the Independent TD expressed frustration that a time frame was given around the implementation of the panel's recommendations, but little had been done.
Recommendations in the report aimed to safeguard residents in nursing homes over the following 12-18 months and into the longer term.
Deputy McNamara pointed out that this is not the first time this issue has been highlighted.
Speaking via video link, he said in 2011 a report by the HSE suggested moving away from health care settings.
In 1998, a working group looked at social supports and care assistance rather than emphasis being placed on congregated settings.
Deputy McNamara noted that there have been incentivised tax breaks to build nursing homes.
He said everyone in the Covid-19 committee "had a problem" over the lack of support or services available to older people at home or in the community.
He said this was leading to people with little choice but to go into congregated settings.
He expressed his frustration over progressing the issue within the Oireachtas.
Sage has called for a sustainable, creative and a more rights focused approach to care for people with long term support and care needs.
It says the aim of the discussion document published today is to inform the work of a Commission on Care for older people which has been committed to in the Programme for Government.
