Nursing Homes Ireland and Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI Launch New Research on Human Rights in Nursing Home Care

Practical tools to support rights-based, resident-led care in nursing homes

Dublin, 29 August 2025 – Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), in partnership with the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, today launches Placing Human Rights at the Heart of Nursing Home Care. Officially launched by Elaine Cassidy, Director General of the Office of the Ombudsman, this new research provides practical tools for nursing home care providers to embed a rights-based approach in daily practice and forms a key part of NHI’s work to strengthen policy, advocacy, and resident-focused care.

This research was initiated by Nursing Homes Ireland, whose leadership, guidance and strategic direction were central to its development. Conceptualised in 2023 under NHI’s HOMES strategy, it places the voice and rights of residents at the centre of sector development and policy advocacy.

The research, led by Professor Mary Lynch in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI in 2024, provides a concrete, actionable resource for NHI Members and the wider sector, strengthening the focus on safeguarding, autonomy, and cultural inclusion in everyday care. It reflects FNM and NHI’s continued leadership in promoting human rights, enhancing the lived experience of residents, and supporting staff to deliver person-centred, rights-based care.

Tadhg Daly, Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, said:

“Placing human rights at the heart of nursing home care is not only a matter of best practice, it is critical to shaping the future of nursing home care and policy in Ireland.

“This research provides our Members with a practical resource that underpins NHI’s policy and advocacy work, enabling us to continue to engage proactively with Government, regulators, and the public on the issues that matter most to residents.

“By leading this initiative with RCSI, we are ensuring that nursing home care providers are equipped to deliver rights-focused care, while NHI continues to shape the national conversation on the future of nursing home care.

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration and demonstrating leadership in advancing the human rights agenda across our sector and the wider health and social care system.”

Deirdre Shanagher, Strategic Clinical Nurse Expert with Regulatory Compliance of Nursing Homes Ireland, stated:

“This project reflects NHI’s leadership in placing human rights and the voice of residents at the centre of nursing home care.

“By commissioning this work as part of our HOMES strategy, we set out to create a practical, useable resource that helps our Members deliver rights-based, resident-led care, while also strengthening NHI’s role as a proactive voice in national policy discussions.

“This collaboration with RCSI combines academic rigour with sector insight, giving our members the tools to demonstrate the highest standards of care and engage confidently in shaping the future of nursing home care in Ireland.”

Professor Mary Lynch, Executive Vice Dean for Research said:

‘This novel project used phased approaches to review the current evidence, which informed engagement strategies to gain insights from key stakeholders across the sector around the human rights of residents in nursing home care’.

The results emphasise that ‘A Human Rights Based Approach is essential for quality of care and quality of life for residents receiving nursing home care’ and the importance of staff education, strong leadership, and systemic reform to support homely, culturally respectful, and personalised care’

Professor Mark White, Executive Dean stated:

‘The evidence gathered through this phased research was used to develop guidance information to support and shape practice for seamless integration of a human rights-based approach for the nursing home care sector in Ireland.’

‘This guidance information developed by the FNM research team sets out the existing legal obligations and responsibilities of nursing homes in Ireland, along with summarising the international evidence, presents stakeholder perspectives, and provides links to useful tools and resources’.

‘The Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery RCSI were delighted to work with NHI on this project and continue developing the strong partnerships with the NHI leadership team and the nursing home sector.’

By combining NHI’s policy leadership with RCSI’s research expertise, this project reinforces NHI’s position as an engaged and forward-looking voice for the sector, representing member needs, resident rights, and the future of nursing home care in Ireland.

ENDS

Kevin Deegan,

Policy & Communications Lead, NHI

communications@nhi.ie | 087 236 3039

About Nursing Homes Ireland

Nursing Homes Ireland is the national representative organisation for the private and voluntary nursing homes sector. This sector, and the care NHI Members provide, is central to health and social care delivery in Ireland. Private and voluntary providers deliver nursing home care to approximately 27,000 residents and account for more than 84% of all long-term care beds in the country.

NHI’s work is guided by the HOMES Strategy 2024–2026, Highlighting, Organising, Motivating, Engaging, and Shaping the future of nursing home care. This strategy underpins all aspects of our advocacy, policy development, and Member engagement, with a focus on quality, sustainability, and resident-centred outcomes.

About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences 

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked first in the world for its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2025.   

Founded in 1784 as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with responsibility for training surgeons in Ireland, today RCSI is an innovative, not-for-profit, international university exclusively focused on driving improvements in human health worldwide through education, research and engagement.  

RCSI is among the top 300 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings (2025) and has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.   

In 2026, RCSI will open a new public engagement space, dedicated to health and well-being, at 118 St Stephen’s Green in Dublin city centre. The space is designed to engage the public in dialogue about living longer, healthier and happier lives through dynamic events and exhibitions. Our aim is to bridge the gap between health sciences research, professional expertise, and public understanding, empowering people to make informed decisions about their health. 

Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise. 

Notes for Editor:

• Placing Human Rights at the Heart of Nursing Home Care was initiated and commissioned by Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) and researched by the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
• The paper is intended as practical guidance for nursing home care providers, supporting the delivery of rights-based, resident-focused care while providing a policy foundation for NHI’s advocacy work.
• The guidance is designed to be useable by Members and nursing home care providers, offering methods, tools, and examples to strengthen safeguarding, autonomy, and cultural inclusion in day-to-day care.
• This collaboration combines NHI’s policy and sector leadership with RCSI’s research expertise, ensuring the guidance is grounded in evidence and international best practice.
• Media are welcome to quote from the paper or request interviews with NHI for further comment on the policy and advocacy implications.