The role and future development of nursing homes in Ireland.

Abstract

This study on the role and future development of nursing homes in
\nIreland is a further contribution by the National Council for the Elderly
\nto the series of studies on institutional care services for the elderly begun
\nby its predecessor, the National Council for the Aged.
\nTaking the Community as its focus, the Council's 1985 study, Institutional
\nCare of the Elderly in Ireland established the context in which the general
\nhospital and other hospital and institutional care services can best support
\nthe community caring network in achieving its full potential. The role
\nof assessment and the concept of the community hospital were outlined
\nand the issues of registration and funding of nursing homes were addressed.
\nTwo studies followed, Nursing Homes in the Republic of Ireland: A
\nStudy of the Private and Voluntary Sector and "It's Our Home": The
\nQuality of Life in Private and Voluntary Nursing Homes, in 1986. These
\nstudies established the first profile of the structure and process of care
\nin the private and voluntary sector as well as some of the perceptions of
\nnursing home residents about the quality of care.
\nTogether, these reports have contributed to the development of policy
\nand legislation concerning nursing homes in recent years. Many of the
\nrecommendations in The Years Ahead - A Policy for the Elderly (1988)
\nand some of the provisions of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990
\nreflect the influence of these research reports.