Categories of care provided

Long term residential or nursing care

For individuals who, through age, disability, social reasons, or illness, require full time nursing care.

Convalescent and post-operative care

For hospital patients who no longer need hospital care but are in need of time to convalesce.

Respite care

Offering home carers the opportunity to take a break, whilst enabling residents to enjoy time in a supportive environment with the chance to participate in social and recreational activities.

Levels of dependency cared for

Low dependency

This category refers to people who need some support in the community and the more independent residents in residential accommodation who require little nursing care. They are usually independently mobile but may use a walking stick and have difficulty managing stairs.

Medium dependency

Persons whose independence is impaired to the extent that he/she requires residential care because the appreciate support and nursing care required by the person cannot be provided in the community. Mobility is impaired to the extent that the person requires supervision or a walking aid.

High dependency

Independence impaired to the extent that the person requires residential care but is not bed bound. This person may have a combination of physical and mental disabilities, may be confused at times and be incontinent. He/she may require a walking aid and physical assistance to walk.

Maximum dependency

Persons whose independence is impaired to the extent that he/she requires nursing care. The person is likely to be bed bound, requires assistance with all aspects of physical care and may be ambulant but confused, disturbed and incontinent. Description of dependency levels as used by HIQA in their “annual return for providers of designated centres: residential care centres for older peoples”.