The Health Information & Quality Authority has published six inspection reports into Aperee Living, which provides care in nursing homes in Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Kilkenny.
In the six homes, HIQA has raised issues over the management of residents' finances, in some cases after residents had died.
In Aperee Living Tralee, the April inspection found the home did not have a separate resident client account and residents' monies were paid into the centre's current account.
Eight of these residents currently resided in the nursing home, while three had passed away and their funds had yet to revert to their estates.
A review of available records suggested that, at times, residents would not have been able to access their money should they wish to do so and that their money was used to support the day-to-day operations of the centre.
HIQA said that residents were not made aware that their money was being used at times to fund the day-to-day running of Aperee Living Tralee.
Inspectors also noted that people who were not employees of Aperee Living Tralee Limited had requested transfers of money out of the current account in Aperee Living Tralee to other accounts not connected with this registered centre and many of these transfers were seen to include residents' money.
In its response to HIQA, Aperee Tralee said that all monies owed to estates of deceased residents had been returned.
It said that on the passing of any resident, all monies belonging to the residents will be discharged from the home's account in a timely fashion ensuring that the resident’s estate is safeguarded.
At Aperee Living Conna in Cork, where 20 residents had passed away, HIQA found that their funds had yet to revert to their estates.
Aperee Living Conna told HIQA that the policy for management of personal property, personal finances and possessions has been updated to include the process for managing pension arrangements in the centre and the requirement for a resident specific account.
At Aperee Living Bantry in Cork, a review of banking records showed residents' monies were used on a number of occasions to pay the ongoing costs of running the centre.
HIQA said that while the money was returned to the account, this was not appropriate or correct use of residents' monies.
Aperee Living Bantry told HIQA that all deceased residents' monies are protected and balances monitored internally by the accounts department.
It added that residents’ funds will not be used for any other purpose other than their own use.
In a statement to RTÉ News, Aperee Living said it acknowledges the HIQA reports, and will continue to work closely with the authority.
It said the company responded in detail to HIQA as part of the process, which has been documented in their reports.
Aperee Living said that all relevant policies have been updated and all residents' finances have always been, and will continue to be, fully protected.
The company said it has engaged and will continue to engage with residents and families at Aperee Living's nursing homes to directly address any concerns they may have.
'Residents may not have been able to access their money'
At Aperee Living Belgooly in Cork, a review of bank statements for the residents' client account showed that a large sum of money was transferred out of this account to another company account in February 2023.
This meant that the amount retained in the account since February 2023 was significantly less than the amount of residents' funds that should be in the residents' account.
"Therefore at these times residents may not have been able to access their money, should they wish to do so for their use and care, and money appears to have been used to support a separate company," the HIQA inspection found.
Aperee Living Belgooly told HIQA that no authority will be granted to residents' funds to people who are not employed by the registered provider.
It said that all pension/residents’ deceased funds will be managed by the Director of Nursing and/or the accounts department.
Also at this home, HIQA had issues with food and nutrition. One resident was seen to not have the basics of a cup and was drinking tea from a cereal bowl.
There was also an inadequate number of staff available to support residents at mealtimes, leaving residents with meals that went cold while they waited for assistance from staff.
One home set to close after independent review
Aperee Living Belgooly recently announced it was to close after an independent review of its long-term viability.
At Aperee Living Ballygunner in Waterford, HIQA inspectors found a large sum of money belonging to a number of residents who had died in the Ballygunner Limited current account and the monies had yet to revert to their estates.
It was seen that money was transferred out of the current account to other accounts and many of these transfers were seen to include residents' transfers, meaning that the registered provider directed residents' funds to be used for purposes other than the residents’ own use.
The home told HIQA that a new resident client account was being set up and all deceased residents’ monies are protected, and balances monitored by the accounts department.
It said that residents’ funds will not be used for any other purpose than residents' own use.
At Aperee Living Callan in Kilkenny, residents could not access their money at the weekend and HIQA said this was not in line with a human-rights based approach.
The home told HIQA that the policy for management of personal property, personal finances and possessions has been updated to include the process for managing residents' personal monies and deceased residents' funds in the centre and the requirement for a resident specific account.
