Prof Des O’Neill, one of the country’s best known geriatricians has called for an urgent rethink of nursing home to best support quality of life and infection control for older people.
And he says that while many people think negatively about nursing homes, the phrase ‘I don’t want to end up in a nursing home’ might more accurately be rephrased to say “I recognize the significant likelihood of my spending time in a nursing home before I die, and I want it to be a supportive, enabling, domestically-scaled environment with sophisticated care and well-supported staff”.
“One woman in three among us, and one man in four, will spend time in a nursing home before we die,” he pointed out. “Compared to the attention we devote to architecture and design of our own homes and prestigious public spaces, there has been remarkably little attention to embedding excellence in design and architecture in nursing homes. Combining an environment which replicates domestic warmth and independence with the necessary elements of care infrastructure is a challenging task and requires deep insights into the nature of how life in nursing homes can be supportive and encourage flourishing that rises above simplistic concepts of financial profitability and adherence to minimum regulatory standards,” he wrote.
A cross-party audience of TDs and Senators attended an event addressed by Prof O’Neill in Leinster House on 6 December, titled ‘Caring for Us as We Age: A Proactive Approach on Nursing Homes’.
Professor Des O’Neill, a consultant geriatrician at Tallaght University Hospital and Peamount Healthcare and a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin’s School of Medicine, spoke to politicians on the crisis within nursing homes.
He outlined how with the large-scale privatisation of nursing homes, an insecurity has set in about clear and uniform leadership and standards.
He said the current crisis in nursing homes has been long in gestation. In addition to offering an analysis of the current problems which followed the ‘perfect storm’ of Covid-19, Professor O’Neill detailed alternative models which should stimulate a public debate on the future of nursing homes.
The event was organised by the All Party Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group, a cross-party group of TDs and Senators whose members are interested in promoting an authentic vision of human rights in the Oireachtas and in civil society, emphasising the right to life and dignity of every human person.
It is co-chaired by independent TDs Carol Nolan and Peter Fitzpatrick.
Speaking after the event, Laois-Offaly Deputy, Carol Nolan said:
“We were delighted to host Professor Des O’Neill. Clearly there is a need for an attitude shift on nursing homes and their future. It’s important that we begin to see nursing homes as an integrated part of the community which provides a dignified and safe living space for our older people.
As Professor O’Neill acknowledged, although we are demographically ageing as a country, we are becoming healthier. An older population presents opportunities, and the value and contributions of older people must be prioritised and recognised.”
“Nursing homes are increasingly private and we are seeing the emergence of large chains which operate for-profit nursing homes. This approach poses challenges so it is important that the concerns of a broad sweep of society, expert opinion, and policymakers is listened to in addition to the views of private owners and operators of nursing homes.”
The Green House movement and the Eden Alternative in the UK present examples of successful models elsewhere which have prioritised a smaller and more intimate model of nursing homes. The tendency towards large building blocks with limited social living spaces such as living rooms is regrettable. A rethink on the structure, location, and operation of nursing homes is needed,” concluded Deputy Nolan.