The independence and autonomy of nursing home residents should be respected whatever their disability, according to the Charter of the Rights of Elderly People adopted by the IRNHA.
The charter was formally presented to the Minister of State for Health (with responsibility for older people), Dr Tom Moffat, at the association's annual seminar yesterday. He said many of its concepts build on the principles already enshrined in the Nursing Homes Act of 1990.
Since then, 376 nursing homes have been registered with the health boards, of which 190 are members of the association.
A code of conduct is appended to the charter which requires all members of the IRNHA to be honest and ethical in all dealings with residents, to promote a high standard of care and comply with all legislation and regulations.
The charter undertakes to provide contracts of care, maintain accurate records, provide quality nursing and a caring and homely environment.
It also deals with the need for proper training and accreditation for all staff and urges co-operation between public, voluntary and private agencies.
It hopes that financing will be continually adapted to the current cost of care and that policies for the elderly be simplified and co-ordinated by the relevant State Department.
Ms Sheila Wilson is a resident of Riversdale Nursing Home in Dublin. She is 82 and was diagnosed as suffering from multiple sclerosis in 1951. After many years of remission, she now has no movement from the neck down.
She told The Irish Times that when her husband's health failed they had health board support which included incontinence needs. In a nursing home all such materials had to be paid for. "The Government should subsidise the nursing homes. If I wasn't in a private nursing home, I would be a liability on the State.
"We are not fat cats. To get into a private nursing home you have to sell your home."
She also stressed the need for stimulation and occupational therapy.