Nursing home told to improve dining experience
While praised for being well-managed and organised, Maynooth Community Unit, Leinster St, Maynooth, was nonetheless faulted for storing equipment in one dining room and physiotherapy bars in another, which staff acknowledged restricted space.
Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) were also concerned that not all residents at the Health Service Executive (HSE) home had access to call bells and that the home had no contract in place for residents.
Inspectors also said that while there is an activity programme in place, “many highly-dependant and immobile residents were observed spending long periods of time without anything to do”.
However, inspectors did find that “staff are knowledgeable on their role and responsibilities, and are focused on fulfilment for residents”. They also said the atmosphere “is homely and relaxed” and that residents and relatives are involved in the running of the centre through the residents’ forum.
Residents said they enjoyed the meals. One resident said that “the catering staff deserve a medal for all of their hard work”. Smoothies and chopped fresh fruit are available in the afternoon and fresh baked scones and currant-bread are served to the residents. “However, the dining experience needs to be improved,” inspectors said, highlighting the blanket use of white sauce on dinners and milk and sugar in tea.
In a response from the home, service provider Billy Quinn said the dining experience “would be reviewed”. In relation to call bells, he said they were at all bedsides, but that the home is exploring alternative options for highly dependent residents who are unable to operate call bells.
Mr Quinn also said all residents will have a meaningful activities assessment in their new care plan, implemented by March 2010, and the HSE older persons services are developing a standard national contract of care for use in public extended care units.
A second nursing home in Naas, Co Kildare, was criticised by HIQA for not managing medication administration in line with best practice and for not having a policy and procedure for the recruitment, selection and vetting of staff.
Inspectors who reviewed the medication administration records at Larchfield Nursing Home, on Monread Road, found one resident was being administered medication that had been discontinued on the prescription.
Residents told inspectors they were not aware of the activity schedule and did not have any participation in developing it. Some residents said they were bored and had nothing to do.
In comments from the provider, it was stated that all staff nurses will attend a refresher course in the management of medication and that a new activities co-ordinator – who has re-assessed the residents’ needs – has been employed. “An activities file has been commenced where there is a section for each individual resident,” the provider said.
On a positive note, inspectors found that staff were kind and courteous to residents and all residents spoke highly of the care they received.
