An international review of nursing home experience surveys has been published today by the National Care Experience Programme (NCEP), a collaboration between the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Mental Health Commission, and the Department of Health. The review, which identifies recent developments in how nursing home residents and their families are engaged with about their experiences of care in other jurisdictions, highlights important findings and areas for consideration for Ireland and will inform the next programme of engagement to be carried out by the NCEP across Irish nursing homes.
Ireland’s first National Nursing Home Experience Survey was implemented by the NCEP in 2022. It offered nursing home residents and their relatives and friends the opportunity to share their experiences of nursing home care. Overall, 90% of residents and 87% of residents and friends reported a good or very good experience of care. Residents were particularly positive about the living environment and the staff and caregivers who cared for them. Areas for improvement included the involvement of residents in decision making, food provided in the nursing home, and the availability of staff to discuss residents’ worries and fears with them.
Building on the National Nursing Home Experience Survey conducted in 2022, the findings of this international review will inform a more inclusive approach to capturing nursing home residents’ voices, reflecting the principles of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, which commenced in 2023. The main aim of the National Nursing Home Experience Survey is to learn from and understand the experiences of nursing home residents and their relatives and friends in order to improve their lived experience in Irish nursing homes.
Speaking about the publication of the review, Director of Health Information and Standards and NCEP, Rachel Flynn said:
“This review captures some of the key areas for consideration for us as we prepare for the next iteration of Ireland’s National Nursing Home Experience Survey. It draws attention to the importance of strong engagement with participants and increased accessibility to drive participation, ensuring that this programme of engagement captures the views of a representative group of nursing home residents and their family members and friends.”
This international review was undertaken as part of a wider process of preparation for the next National Nursing Home Experience Survey. This phase also includes a national review of the previous survey model and methodology, alongside engagement with stakeholders, including nursing home residents and their relatives, through focus groups. It is an update to an international review published in 2021, which informed the development of Ireland’s first National Nursing Home Experience Survey.
