‘A lovely place to live’: Residents praise Leitrim nursing home in HIQA report
A HIQA inspection found Arus Carolan in Mohill largely compliant, with residents praising the centre while some areas were identified for improvement.
A nursing home in South Leitrim received a largely positive report following a HIQA inspection carried out in April this year.
Arus Carolan Nursing Unit in Mohill was found to be compliant with 11 regulations and substantially compliant with three.
The centre in Mohill provides 24-hour nursing care to 34 male and female residents over 18 years of age who require long-term and short-term care, including dementia care, convalescence, palliative care and psychiatry of old age. Accommodation consists of two three-bed bedrooms, six twin bedrooms and 22 single bedrooms.
Communal facilities include a dining room, two sitting rooms, an oratory, a hair salon and two outdoor courtyards, including one with sheltered seating.
The inspector found there was a lively atmosphere in the centre, with residents participating together in social activities taking place in the sitting room during the day. Residents also enjoyed live music from a local musician, befriending volunteers and weekly visits from Transition Year students.
One resident told the inspector that “this is a lovely place to live in,” while another resident said that they “never enjoyed their life as much.”
One resident who preferred to stay in their room told the inspector that their day was “often very long,” and they would “love to have more to do to pass the time.”
However, residents said that they were always listened to and that any issues they ever raised were addressed to their satisfaction.
The centre was found to be well-managed, with management and staff committed to providing a good service to residents and meeting their needs. The inspector observed that residents were involved in all decisions regarding the running of the centre, and that their views were valued and utilised in enhancing service provision.
Of the 14 regulations inspected, the centre was deemed compliant with 11, while three were deemed substantially compliant. These included governance and management, protection and residents’ rights.
The inspector found that the centre did not ensure that a number of residents living in the centre who preferred to spend most of the day in their bedrooms were supported with adequate opportunities to participate in social activities that were meaningful and in accordance with their individual interests and capacities.
However, the report was largely positive and found residents to be happy. A compliance plan to address the substantially compliant judgement has been returned to the Authority, outlining a number of actions that have been undertaken and that will be undertaken to bring the centre into full compliance.