01/10/2026
Today is International Day for Older People, which highlights both the opportunities and challenges of ageing in Ireland. This year’s theme ‘The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives’, encourages us to consider the structures and systems in place for older people in our society.
Listening to the voice of the resident and ensuring it is central to all decisions about their care and support, is key to rights-based care. Over the years, we have sought to improve how we engage with residents and to ensure their voice is prominent in our inspections and our reports.
Earlier this year we ran an artwork competition that was open to residents of nursing homes all over the country. We asked them to share with us what care and support means to them.
We received over 250 entries, including beautiful works of art, poetry and prose, which residents used to tell us their stories and describe their experiences as individuals and groups. The various ways in which residents chose to portray care and support were heartfelt and powerful.
Selecting an overall winner was very challenging, however we are delighted to announce Mary O’Connell, a resident of St Sennen’s Community Nursing Unit, as the competition winner. Mary’s art will feature as the cover of our upcoming Nursing Homes Overview Report.
We extend our sincere thanks to every resident who took part, and to the staff, providers, and persons in charge who encouraged and supported them throughout the process.
As people age, they must be supported to live active and fulfilling lives where their human rights are protected and their independence promoted as far as possible.
Since regulation commenced in 2009, we have worked to ensure that a human rights-based approach to care is at the core of health and social care services that are being provided to older people across the country. In recent decades we have seen significant improvements for older people living in nursing homes, and many providers have changed the culture within their services, leading to tangible improvements in the quality of life for residents.
To sustain these improvements and ensure that the systems in place around older people continue to develop, a focus on human rights by staff and good oversight by providers is essential.
You can find out more about our work in nursing homes on our website: https://www.hiqa.ie/areas-we-work/nursing-homes
