An unannounced inspection of a nursing home in North Kerry has found a series of ongoing issues across staffing, governance, care planning and the physical condition of the premises.
Two Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspectors conducted an unannounced visit to Lystoll Lodge Nursing Home in Listowel in May (27-28 May 2025).
They found that, although residents appeared well cared for and spoke positively about staff kindness and food quality, the home continued to experience shortages of care staff.
In total, Lystoll Lodge was found non-compliant with seven regulations, substantially compliant with four, and compliant with four more of the 15 standards.
The inspectors found that on one evening of the inspection, only one nurse and one healthcare assistant were available to support twenty-eight residents upstairs, leading to delays in care.
Lystoll Lodge Nursing Home Limited says additional healthcare assistants have since been recruited and are now on the roster, with further staff awaiting Garda vetting.
Key management posts, including the Assistant Director of Nursing, were vacant, and the Person in Charge (PIC) had been absent since early May.
The inspectors said care planning remained inconsistent, with examples of missing or incomplete documentation, inaccurate weights, and delayed use of pressure-relieving equipment.
Since then, a new Person in Charge has been appointed and an audit schedule, including key performance indicators and quarterly reviews, is being implemented to improve governance.
The provider says care plans have been updated, and a new admissions checklist will ensure plans are completed within forty-eight hours.
HIQA described premises issues as repeat findings.
Communal and dining space was inadequate, window restrictors were easily opened, and some furniture and bed bumpers were worn.
Several bedrooms did not have chairs, and storage areas were described as disorganised.
Inspectors also found that residents’ rights were not always upheld, with televisions absent or poorly positioned, privacy curtains needing adjustment, and limited access to activities.
The provider says window restrictor work was undertaken, furniture and worn bed bumpers were to be replaced, shelving was to be fitted in storage rooms, new televisions were purchased, privacy curtains were repositioned, and a full call-bell audit was undertaken.