Lake House Nursing Home staff attentive and empathetic, HIQA finds

Lake House Nursing Home’s residents spoke highly of attentive and empathetic staff when the facility was visited by a HIQA inspector. 

The centre was found by HIQA to be compliant or substantially compliant with the majority of regulations. However the inspector found non-compliance in areas of protection and premises. 

An unannounced inspection took place at Lake House Nursing Home on January 8. The centre at Portnablagh is owned by Sheephaven Properties Limited. It provides care and support to meet the needs of 49 male and female older persons who require long-term and short-term care. Residents assessed as having dementia can be accommodated.

The centre is a two storey building located in a coastal area. Resident bedroom accommodation is located on both floors and consists of single, twin and one triple room. The ground floor contains a number of communal spaces, dining areas, household facilities including kitchen, sluice room, clinical room and offices. 

According to the report: “Overall, the residents were happy with the care they received in the centre, with many residents commenting that this is a good centre and that they were well cared for by the staff.

“The inspector spoke with five residents in total, and the residents commented very positively about the staff and said they were attentive to their needs and excellent in their empathetic and patient approach. 

“Residents commented that call bells were attended to without delays during the day and night. 

“All residents commented that their food choices were respected in this centre and that the food was of good quality.”

The inspector reported that there was a pleasant ambience, and residents were well presented and relaxed. Staff had a good knowledge of residents’ preferences and routines.

While bedrooms were appropriately decorated, the inspector noted: “ The layout of nine twin bedrooms and a three-bedded room did not ensure that the rooms met the needs of the residents accommodated in them as there was not enough space for residents to have a locker and a comfortable chair beside their beds within their bedspace.”

This was the issue which led to a finding of non-compliance in regard to the premises.

Regarding the area of protection where the inspector also recorded a finding of non-compliance, the report reads: “The provider's measures to protect residents from abuse in the centre required further improvement to ensure residents were adequately protected when other residents became agitated and expressed significant responsive behaviours. 

“The inspector identified three incidents that had occurred, which did not provide assurances in relation to what was done to protect other residents.”

It was noted that regular residents' meetings were held, ensuring that they were involved in the running of the centre and the planning of activities.  

Care plans were found to be detailed, and were reviewed at regular intervals.

The inspector found Lake House Nursing Home to be compliant in areas of staffing; training and staff development; communication difficulties; visits; health care.

It was found to be substantially compliant in records; governance and management; notifications of incidents; complaints procedure; information for residents; fire precautions; individual assessment and care plan; and residents’ rights. 

It was non-compliant in regard to premises, and protection.