HIQA has found that a south-east Clare nursing home didn’t adequately inform staff of the protocol for the unexplained absence of a resident.
The Health Information and Quality Authority carried out the unannounced inspection of Athlunkard Nursing Home on October 22nd last year.
The facility located in Westbury has the capacity to cater for 103 residents, providing 24-hour care for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities and those who require general nursing, dementia, palliative, respite and post-operative care.
On the day of the inspection, the facility was catering for 93 residents.
HIQA determined the quality of care offered by Athlunkard Nursing home was to a good standard but noted the centre was not compliant in the areas of residents’ rights and governance and management.
Inspectors found that measures outlined in risk assessments for residents who required enhanced supervision were not fully implemented, while staff were not fully informed of the protocol in the event of an unexplained absence of a resident.
Centre management noted in response to the ruling that full training would be provided to staff in the area of residents absconding while a review of measures related to resident supervision would be carried out.
Residents meanwhile highlighted a lack of relevant activities available to them, stating there was an over-reliance on tv as a means of entertainment.
Management said to rectify this they would employ further staff to delegate more resources to activity planning while a review of residents’ interests and capabilities would be carried out to further devise an activity plan going forward.
The centre was found compliant in three other areas and substantially compliant in a further four.
The full report can be viewed here: https://www.hiqa.ie/system/files?file=inspectionreports/729-athlunkard-house-nursing-home-22-october-2024.pdf
