Two north west residential centres for older people have received mixed reports from the health watchdog.
Inspections were carried out at both the Ballymote Community Nursing Unit and St Phelim’s Nursing Home in Dromahair in April of this year, the details of which been published today.
Ballymote Community Nursing Unit is registered to accommodate 32 residents who require long-term residential care or who require short term respite, convalescence, dementia or palliative care.
The HIQA inspector noted the centre was visibly clean and the inspector observed good infection prevention and control practices in use by staff.
However, ensuites in some of the vacant bedrooms were marked as having been cleaned, but were visibly unclean.
Despite this, there was a programme of activities in place that reflected the interests and capacities of residents.
Residents had access to radio, television and newspapers and were found to be supported to exercise choice in relation to their daily routines.
It was found there was a wide and varied menu available for residents on the day of inspection.
Picture menus were on display for residents with cognitive impairments who required additional support. A trolley was in use to keep residents’ food warm.
St Phelim’s Nursing Home, meanwhile, provides care and support for female and male adult residents mainly from 65 years of age.
The layout of some bed spaces in these rooms did not facilitate the safe maneuvering of large equipment, such as hoists and was unsuitable for residents with higher dependency levels who needed to use this type of equipment.
Despite this, residents were supported to have access to general practitioners (GPs) from local practices, health and social care professionals and specialist medical and nursing services.
While systems were in place to ensure the protection of residents, including facilitating all staff to attend safeguarding training.
