A powerful RTÉ Investigates documentary on nursing home situations has sent shockwaves across the nation, unearthing deeply disturbing conditions within two private nursing homes and igniting widespread outrage. Aired tonight, the programme has revealed serious and systemic failings in care at facilities operated by Emeis Ireland, the country’s largest private nursing home provider, sparking immediate calls for urgent regulatory reform and increased oversight.
The gripping investigation, the culmination of months of meticulous undercover work by RTÉ journalists, saw reporters pose as healthcare assistants at The Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin. The raw, unflinching footage captured by the team paints a distressing picture of profound neglect, critical understaffing, and the undignified treatment of vulnerable elderly residents, challenging the very trust placed in care institutions.
Among the most shocking and heartbreaking findings brought to light were:
- Prolonged Neglect of Basic Needs: Harrowing scenes showed an elderly woman left distressed and abandoned on a toilet for an extended period after a staff member went on a break. Her call bell was deliberately broken, and when help finally arrived, a nurse was observed callously wiping her hands on the resident’s skirt, a stark display of disrespect.
- Denial of Essential Toilet Access: The documentary featured an elderly man in a wheelchair desperately pleading to use the toilet, only to be ignored for a shocking 25 minutes. In another equally disturbing instance, a resident was explicitly told to use their incontinence pad instead of being assisted to the bathroom, raising serious questions about resident dignity and fundamental human rights.
- Critical Shortage of Essential Equipment: Undercover cameras captured staff discussing the alarming reality of running out of basic incontinence pads, forcing them to resort to makeshift, unhygienic alternatives. One nurse candidly admitted that this dangerous practice could lead to severe bedsores, unequivocally describing it as “a form of abuse.”
- Unsafe and Disrespectful Handling of Residents: The investigation exposed instances where vulnerable individuals were lifted without proper hoisting equipment, posing significant risks of injury to both residents and staff. In a particularly distressing scene, a frail woman was seen being pulled up by her clothes, with a staff member chillingly remarking, “They are not glass,” highlighting a concerning lack of empathy and professional care.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by consultant geriatricians who reviewed the footage. Professor David Robinson, visibly shaken by the revelations, described the observed conditions as nothing short of “institutional abuse” and “neglect in a setting that is supposed to be caring.” He issued a stark warning that such egregious treatment could severely shorten residents’ lives and drastically diminish their quality of life, emphasizing the life-or-death stakes involved in proper care.
Emeis Ireland, formerly operating under the name Orpea, is a dominant force in the Irish nursing home sector, managing 27 facilities nationwide and providing over 2,400 beds. In the wake of the documentary, the company has issued an apology to its residents and their families, stating that it has launched a full internal review and is committed to addressing the serious issues raised. However, this apology is unlikely to quell the burgeoning public anger or the immediate demands for accountability.
The RTÉ report has not only sparked widespread public concern but has also reignited a fierce national debate over the regulation and oversight of private care homes in Ireland. Advocacy groups, including Age Action Ireland and the Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), have condemned the findings, urging the government to take immediate and decisive action. Calls are mounting for stronger, more frequent, and unannounced inspections, mandated improvements in staffing levels, and greater financial and operational transparency from private care providers.
Many of the homes featured in the investigation, including The Residence in Portlaoise where residents pay approximately €1,200 per week, are part of the government’s “Fair Deal scheme.” This vital government programme is designed to help cover the significant costs of nursing home care based on a person’s income and assets. The revelations have cast a shadow over the scheme’s effectiveness and raised questions about whether adequate protections are in place for those whose care is subsidized by the state.
Families of residents across the country have expressed profound anger, heartbreak, and betrayal over the reported treatment of their loved ones, many of whom are unable to speak for themselves. The “Left Waiting, Left Behind” documentary serves as a powerful wake-up call, demanding an urgent re-evaluation of how Ireland cares for its most vulnerable citizens and a commitment to ensuring that dignity, respect, and proper care are not just aspirations, but guaranteed realities in every nursing home.
