THE NORTHERN Ireland Human Rights Commission has reported cases of elderly people in nursing homes ending up in hospital because of dehydration and of failures to meet the toilet needs of care home residents.
The report, In Defence of Dignity, found nursing homes in Northern Ireland were failing to deliver “many aspects of care”.
“In the report we identify many practices that raise human rights concerns, such as toileting regimes that are built around institutional convenience rather than the needs of residents and that oblige people to use incontinence pads,” said the North’s chief human rights commissioner, Prof Michael O’Flaherty.
“We raise concerns about lack of adequate access to liquids and of 17-hour gaps between the serving of dinner and breakfast,” he added. “We also found many devoted staff who do a first rate job and often find themselves frustrated that they do not get more time to spend with residents to give them the care and attention they are entitled to.”
The commission also details 15 reports of residents admitted to hospital suffering from dehydration and of the allegation in eight of these cases this was because “the home failed to provide residents with enough to drink”.
The commission mainly based its report on case studies of four nursing homes, examination of policies and procedures of nursing homes, doctors’ records and 188 telephoned or written submissions to the commission.
The report also focused on the toilet requirements of residents not being properly addressed.
“One caller explained how at times when she visits her mother she is ‘in tears’ and ‘hammering’ on the cupboard for someone to take her to the toilet.
“It was often reported that it might be up to 45 minutes before a resident’s calls for help are answered, by which time it is too late,” it stated.
“Moreover, several callers were concerned that at times due to staffing pressures residents are asked to use incontinence pads even though, with some assistance, they are able to use the toilet themselves,” it said.
“In addition, at least six callers stated that the resident’s alarm bell is switched off or placed out of reach so that they are unable to ‘buzz’ for help to go to the toilet.
“One caller explained how her mother used to call from a mobile phone in distress because she could not access the alarm bell.”
The commission also received complaints about meal-times, in one case a caller saying the last meal was at 4.30pm and residents did not eat again until breakfast at 10am the following morning.
It also cited cases of doctors reluctant to visit homes to treat residents and of difficulties accessing chiropodists, dieticians, opticians, dentists and physiotherapists.
Calling on the Northern Executive to meet its human rights commitments in relation to care home residents, Prof O’Flaherty said the protection of human rights cannot be left to chance or the goodwill of an individual carer.
