A Roscommon nursing home has been criticised by HIQA for not being able to deliver social activities for residents during Covid-19 restrictions.
Tearmainn Bhride is a rurally based family-run nursing home near Brideswell in South County Roscommon which was also found to be non-compliant in the area of record management and documentation.
HIQA inspected Tearmainn Bhride on October 6th, following up on a February 2019 inspection.
Progress had been made - particularly on fire safety issues. However, it also found two other non-compliances.
While staffing numbers were high enough to care for residents, there was a recruitment campaign ongoing to fill vacancies that were creating a reduction in the number of allocated social care hours available for providing activities for residents.
The report found that this, alongside the COVID-19 visiting restrictions, has had a negative impact on the resident's quality of life.
The inspection also called for improvements on the management of records, audits, documentation of meetings and complaints as well as the in the preparation of annual reviews.
However, in response, the provider for Tearmainn Bhride said the activities coordinator position became vacant at short notice AND THAT in fact, activities were being provided BY the remaining staff, but were just not being documented.
It also said the Activities Co-ordinator position is now filled, despite the difficulties in recruitment during the Covid-19 pandemic and documentation practices have been improved.
