Watchdog says nursing home concerns ‘serious’

MORE THAN half of concerns raised about older people in nursing homes last year were considered serious by the state’s watchdog on health and social services, it has emerged.

The Health Information and Quality Authority’s annual report for 2009 has given a risk rating for the 252 concerns it received during the year about elderly people in residential care.

The health and safety risk to older people was considered moderate in relation to 31% of concerns raised and low for 16%.