The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has set out new draft standards for the rights of older people in residential care.
Public consultation on the recommendations of the HIQA working group began yesterday and interested parties are invited to submit their views before the proposed standards are finalised.
The Draft National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People were published yesterday and they address the quality of life, protection, needs and rights of older people in residential care.
Michele Clarke, acting chief inspector of HIQA, told The Irish Timesyesterday that if the draft standards are finalised, they would represent a "large leap" for the Health Service Executive (HSE) residential care facilities. She said one-third of residential care beds are in the public sector and many are in older buildings that do not adequately provide for the needs of residents.
A spokesman said the HSE looked forward to considering the final guidelines following public consultation. "We endeavour to provide the highest level of care and when the guidelines are published we will work closely with the HSE to implement them," he said.
Ms Clarke said the draft standards constituted a "road map" for continued improvement of residential care. She said the finalised guidelines would assist inspectors of care facilities, private and State providers of residential care and people with an interest in availing of residential care. The 32 quality draft standards were developed by a HIQA working group that included care workers, service providers, older persons' representative groups and the HSE.
The publication places emphasis on the need for an improvement in the "quality of life" of residents and improved transparency in the governance of residential care settings.
Ms Clarke said the HIQA was committed to developing standards in residential care "not as a reaction to negative attention, but as an indicator that we are trying to provide the best service possible".
Public consultation will continue until September 17th. The draft standards are available at http://www.hiqa.ie