The first ever National Nursing Home Experience Survey commenced on 7 March 2022 to learn from residents’ experiences of nursing home care. Click below to watch our video with Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, to learn more.
As part of the survey, residents in participating nursing homes will have the opportunity to share their experiences of the quality of care and support they receive in the nursing home.
One nominated family member or friend of each resident in the selected nursing homes will also have an opportunity to take part in the survey and comment on the care provided to their loved one.
Face-to-face interviews are currently being conducted with residents in order to capture their experiences in the nursing home, while a postal survey has been posted to capture the experiences of family members or friends.
The questionnaires contain over 40 questions on various topics, including daily routines, involvement in decision-making, interactions with staff, person-centred care and food and nutrition. Nursing home residents and their family member or friend will also have an opportunity to share their experience of how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced their experience.
The findings of the National Nursing Home Experience Survey will enable a greater understanding of the experiences of nursing home residents in Ireland; it aims to identify examples of good care and also areas that need to be improved. The findings will be used to inform quality improvements across nursing homes in Ireland, guide future policy and planning in this area and also inform the development of standards and monitoring programmes.
The National Nursing Home Experience Survey is part of the National Care Experience Programme, a joint initiative between HIQA, the HSE and the Department of Health.
Find out more on www.yourexperience.ie.