The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations, 2009 (as amended) currently require that there is an appropriately qualified registered nurse on duty and in charge of all designated centres at all times. The Long-Stay Activities Statistics for 2010 (the most recent year available) provides the following information in respect of the Percentage Distribution of Patients Resident by Level of Dependancy in long-term care as at the 31st December that year. The Deputy should be mindful that these are self-reported survey results.
Survey Response Rate — 80%
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Table B6 — Long-Stay Units by Category: Percentage Distribution of Patients Resident by Level of Dependency
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Region
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Low Dependency
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Medium Dependency
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High Dependency
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Maximum Dependency
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Total
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|
HSE Extended Care Unit
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4.9
|
11.5
|
26.4
|
57.3
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100%
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|
HSE Welfare Home
|
9.5
|
17.9
|
18.4
|
54.3
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100%
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|
Voluntary Home
|
10.1
|
21.6
|
28.9
|
39.5
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100%
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Voluntary Welfare Home
|
34.3
|
12.6
|
32.6
|
20.6
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100%
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|
Private Nursing Home
|
15.3
|
24.9
|
31.8
|
27.9
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100%
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Total
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12.6
|
21.4
|
30
|
35.9
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100%
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The HSE is currently piloting a single assessment tool that will uniformly assess dependancy levels. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory body responsible for the registration of all designated centres for older people, including public, voluntary and private nursing homes. Full details of all currently registered homes, including the care services provided, can be found on the HIQA website, www.hiqa.ie.
Since the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was introduced in October 2009, individuals must undergo cares needs and financial assessments in order to qualify for financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care. At end-December 2011, there were 583 applicants on the national placement list awaiting allocation of funding. In addition, 779 applicants had been allocated funding but had not yet taken up a bed. A further 3,112 applications for the scheme were in progress. However, it should be noted that applications are frequently submitted to the HSE without the necessary supporting documentation. This can create delays which are outside of the HSE's control.
