NHI welcomes commencement of Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015

Tuesday April 25, 2023

NHI welcomes commencement of Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015

25th April 2023: Nursing Homes Ireland welcomes full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which is due to take effect 26th April. This long overdue legislation aims to support all persons to make their own decisions as far as is possible. It is widely recognised that nursing home residents are one of the key groups of people that this legislation has potential to have the biggest impact on. NHI believes the Act can fulfill an important role in enabling nursing home residents to be prioritised and attain access to essential community healthcare services.

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “This is a very welcome, important legislative change to support older people and people who require or may require assistance in exercising their decision-making capacity, to express their beliefs, values, wishes and preferences, whether immediately or in the future. It will underpin the rights of residents receiving nursing home care, with the capacity for them to express their beliefs, values, wishes and preferences integral to the care provided to them in a setting that has become their home”.

In preparation for implementation of the legislation, NHI has hosted a series of information webinars and provided guidance to nursing homes to support such. We look forward to continuing to work with the Decision Support Service and others to support nursing homes in ensuring the principles it applies are underpinning resident care.

Mr Daly added: “We anticipate the Act will fulfil an important role in supporting the efforts of nursing homes and NHI in highlighting the needs of residents, strengthening the advocacy to have them be prioritised and to attain access to essential primary care services, for example, speech and language therapy, which are vital to their healthcare and living needs. Steeped in upholding human rights, this legislation is hugely welcome and we believe it supports the advocacy of NHI and other organisations to persuade the State to ensure nursing home residents are prioritised in accessing community healthcare services.”

Media interviews will be facilitated by Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications and Research Executive, who can be contacted at 087 9082970.