BackOmbudsman Peter Tyndall spoke at the launch of a research report which estimated that 50% of nursing home residents could be living at home.
"Older people who need support should be able to receive it in their own homes if that's where they want to continue to live. We need to make sure that our public services do not discriminate against people who want to stay at home. Enabling people to return home from hospital will help to tackle the hospital bed crisis and, in turn, ease pressure on hard-pressed Emergency Departments. For me this is a human rights issue as we are denying people the right of respect for one's private and family life and home, as enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
I welcome the research jointly carried out by the Irish Association of Social Workers, Age Action, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and UCD, and I hope the findings will be acted upon. Then anyone who feels they or their loved ones have been denied the right to be supported in their own home should consider making complaint to my Office.", the Ombudsman underlined.
Source: Office of the Ombudswoman of Ireland
