In 2014, the Health Information and Quality Authority (the Authority, or HIQA) carried out 758 inspections of 549 nursing homes, 58% of which were unannounced and 42% announced. Inspections assessed compliance with the relevant regulations and National Standards and made judgments regarding each provider’s ongoing fitness to operate a centre.

While most centres had an acceptable level of overall compliance with the regulations and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland, many needed to improve their approach to individualised person-centred care planning, and how that care is delivered, and needed to improve their approach to risk assessment and risk management.