The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) has said that the Government must push ahead with legislation to protect nursing home residents in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis where many of those who died were vulnerable people in homes.
Welcoming the expert panel report on the issue, the social workers’ body insisted that “access to social work services for older people is essential as many older people have to negotiate difficult life altering decisions and transitions”.
Statement
In a statement, the group said that during the pandemic, safeguarding social workers have continued to investigate harrowing cases involving the rape, sexual assault, physical abuse, financial abuse and neglect of residents in nursing homes.
“The message from the social work profession to Government is clear – without adult safeguarding legislation and investment in our safeguarding social work teams, social workers cannot adequately protect and support older or vulnerable adults in nursing homes,” it said.
They also took aim at the failure to implement previous measures, and called for an immediate implementation plan from the Government to ensure rights of access to social work services for all residents in private and public nursing homes.
Challenges
Dr Sarah Donnelly, Assistant Professor of Social Work in UCD, said: “The challenges facing social workers in safeguarding work in residential settings provide ample evidence that adults who are vulnerable to harm in Ireland require the same level of legislative protection we afford to children.
“Until legislation is progressed, we will continue to fail to protect and uphold the human rights of adults who are vulnerable to harm,” she said.