Letters to the Editor: No parallel between nursing homes and prisons

'Linking older peoples stay in a nursing homes to prison and describing it as “benign incarceration” is inaccurate and disrespectful to nursing home residents, staff and their families.'

Within her article, ‘ Even great nursing homes involve losing crucial everyday freedoms’, Irish Examiner, Jan 9, your columnist Terry Prone seeks to draw a parallel between nursing home care and prison.

Linking older peoples stay in a nursing homes to prison and describing it as “benign incarceration” is inaccurate and disrespectful to nursing home residents, staff and their families. Nursing homes are settings where the staff, family and friends bring love and respect on a daily basis to their elders. Nursing homes work because of the careful interaction and support and co-operation between all parties.