The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today announced it is commencing a review of person-centred care and international standards for residential services for older people. This review on residential services for older people will inform the need for an update of the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland. 

Since the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland were published in 2016, there have been significant changes in this sector. As highlighted in the HIQA report 15 Years of Regulating Nursing Homes 2009-2024 (2024), these include legislative reforms, a move towards larger residential settings for older people, and changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other key areas of change have been brought about by digital transformation and technology-enabled care, including the European Union Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act 2024.

Commenting on this review, Rachel Flynn, Director of Health Information and Standards, said:

“National standards describe high-quality, safe and person-centred care by focusing on the outcomes for people using services. They illustrate what a person should expect from the services they receive, and arrangements that services need to have in place to achieve these outcomes. Given the changes to the sector over the past 10 years, it is essential that we ensure the national standards reflect current evidence and best practice in the sector. 
“This review of the latest evidence on person-centred care in residential care settings for older people will help ensure our standards remain robust and focused on the changing needs of the population they serve. This work, along with engagement with our policy partners in the Department of Health will support the development of standards that are evidence based, up to date and fit for purpose.”

HIQA has published the first step in this process, a protocol for how it will conduct a scoping review on person-centred care in residential services for older people. This will be followed by a review of the international standards for residential services for older people. Following this, HIQA will present its findings to the Department of Health to inform a decision on whether to update the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland.

Ends

Notes for Editor:

• Under the Health Act 2007, HIQA sets national standards for health and social care services to describe what high quality, safe, person-centred care looks like. These standards are approved by the Minister for Health.  
• The National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland were first published in 2009 and updated in 2016. 
• HIQA has published the following document: 
  The definitions and characteristics of person-centred care in residential services for older people: a scoping review protocol.

About HIQA

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent body that promotes safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services in Ireland. 

Through its regulation, standard setting and evidence to inform decision-making functions, HIQA supports health and social care services to consistently deliver excellent standards of care and the best possible health and social care outcomes for all.