A protest has taken place at Lucan Lodge nursing home in Dublin, with families, friends and residents calling on the government to intervene to keep elderly people in the facility they call home.
Families say they are “deeply alarmed” by the imminent closure of the facility, saying it is a decision which “completely disregards” the wishes and wellbeing of their vulnerable loved ones, putting them at risk of transfer trauma.
In May, the company which ran Lucan Lodge, Passage Healthcare, went into liquidation, at which stage the HSE stepped in and took over management of the facility. However, in May, the HSE wrote to families to say that legionella (a bacteria which can cause Legionnaires disease – a pneumonia-like illness) had been found in the water at the home.
They cited this reason, along with fire safety concerns, for the planned transfer of residents to other facilities. Today, 26th July, was the deadline given for this transfer.
While 48 out of around 70 residents have so far moved out, a number of residents are refusing to leave, saying they have been faced with an impossible decision.
Families, however, claim that despite repeated requests, the HSE has failed to provide “clear and compelling – or any – evidence of the health and safety risks that necessitate the “dramatic and disruptive” action.
Family and older persons advocacy group Care Champions say that residents are “paying the enormous price of failed Government policy and business,” as they described today as “stressful.” The organisation, which is coordinating a public awareness campaign and around the clock protests to keep the facility open, have said residents and loved ones are “distraught” at the “forced relocation.”
“The HSE has callously informed them of an imminent move and potential hospitalisation. This is a blatant disregard for their dignity, choice, and wellbeing. While the state promotes resident choice in policy, the reality for Lucan Lodge is stress, distress and a complete lack of care,” Care Champions said.
Residents, families and friends demonstrated outside the Dublin nursing home on Friday from 9am, urging the HSE to take over the facility so that the residents homed there can remain. Families say it is inhumane to ask residents to go to new nursing homes, where they are not familiar with staff, and where staff are not familiar with them.
The HSE previously told residents and families that works would have to be carried out to make the nursing home fit to be registered with HIQA, something they said would involve upgrades to mechanical, electrical and water systems and infection Prevention Control works.
However, families and residents have asked why the government cannot step in and provide money for the home to remain operational.
93-year-old resident, Connie Kiernan, who moved into the home in March, told RTE News that she would remain at the home, where she is highly complimentary of the staff who take care of her. She has said that while she looked at other homes after the HSE said residents would have to be transferred, she could not find any which were suited to her needs.
She will be staying at Lucan Lodge, she told the programme, and tuning in to watch the start of the Paris Olympics on television tonight, adding: “It’s not my problem, I’m staying put.”
Posting a video clip of today’s rally, Care Champions, which is leading the campaign to keep the residents at the facility, wrote:
“The residents, families, and friends of Lucan Lodge are demonstrating extraordinary courage in the face of HSE Ireland actions. The facility must be protected. As they wait for a resolution, families are providing solace through shared music and memories.”
One family member, Jandy, described the HSE’s treatment of residents as “inhumane,” as she urged the hSE to secure Lucan Lodge as a public nursing home. Jandy, whose mother is a resident of the home, said that the family had not found any other suitable arrangements – adding that her mother was “terrified.”
“I’m here for my mum. She is very happy in Lucan Lodge. She doesn’t want to move; she is absolutely terrified of what is going to happen after Friday. She’s pleading with the government and the HSE to fully take over Lucan Lodge. She can’t understand why the government is not helping elderly citizens who pay tax all their lives – they deserve better than this,” she said.
“There is nothing suitable at the moment,” she said. “They want my mum to go into a shared room – that is absolutely unacceptable.”
Supporters of the Lucan Lodge campaign have inundated social media with supportive comments, with one user writing: “Such absolute spirit. Made my heart soar today. HSE Ireland shame on you and your disgraceful contempt for these people.”
“Well done to all the families and protesters who are speaking up for the terrible treatment of the residents…who are being removed from their homes. It’s absolutely disgraceful that this is happening and that the HSE/Government are not stepping in to help,” was another response.
Meanwhile, the HSE said in a statement that it was necessary to move residents over risks to their safety, health and well-being as well as staff and visitors.
“There is no hot water in Lucan Lodge and two of the three electric showers installed only work in the afternoon due to the limited temporary water supply available. These restrictions would also clearly limit the ability to control any cases of an infectious disease were one to occur at Lucan Lodge,” it added.