Choosing a nursing home at short notice

No official source in Ireland publishes which nursing homes have a free bed today. The HSE's advice is to contact your preferred homes as soon as possible, because they may have waiting lists. Calling them one by one takes time, so this is the order we suggest.

1. Agree the essentials with the family. Decide how far is too far to visit, the budget for extra charges, and the care needs that rule homes out, such as a secure dementia unit.
2. Make a long list of 6 to 10 homes. Search by town or Eircode and save homes to your shortlist. A wider list gives you a better chance of finding a bed.
3. Send one enquiry to all of them. From your shortlist, one form sends your details and care needs to every home, so they can reply if they have a place.
4. Phone the same day. Ask for the person who handles admissions, often the person in charge or the director of nursing. Mornings are usually best.
5. Narrow it to 2 or 3. Read their latest HIQA reports, compare them side by side, and visit if you can.

• Do you have a long-term bed now, or when do you expect one? Is there a waiting list?
• Is it a single room, and does it have its own bathroom?
• Can you meet these specific needs (for example dementia, hoist transfers, PEG feeding, diabetes, wound care)?
• When and how will you do your pre-admission assessment? Can it be done on the hospital ward?
• Do you accept Fair Deal residents? Do you take transitional care funding?
• What are your extra weekly charges, and can you email the full schedule?
• Which GP looks after residents, and how often do they visit?

Write down who you spoke to and what they said. If a home says no bed now, ask whether you can go on its waiting list, and ring back in a few days.

Every home is inspected by HIQA, and every report is public. You don't need to read it all. For each home on your shortlist:

• Check the date of the latest inspection, and whether there's been more than one recently.
• Read "What residents told us and what inspectors observed", near the start. It describes daily life in plain language.
• Look at the judgments table near the end. Count the "Not compliant" findings, especially for staffing, governance and management, protection (safeguarding), fire precautions and infection control.
• Check whether the same problems appear in the report before. Repeat findings are a warning sign.

Our guide to reading a HIQA report explains what each judgment and risk colour means.

Even a short visit tells you a lot. If you can't get there, ask for a video call or ask a relative nearby to go.

• Are residents up, dressed and doing something, or mostly sitting alone?
• Do staff know residents' names and speak to them kindly?
• Does it smell clean? Is the room you'd be offered bright and big enough for personal things?
• Are there enough staff around at mealtimes?
• Ask a resident or visitor what it's like, if they're happy to talk.

• Get the weekly price and all extra charges in writing.
• Read the contract of care before signing. It must list services and fees, and the home can't add charges later without your agreement. See the full costs guide.
• If Fair Deal isn't approved yet, confirm who pays until it is. Private payments made while you wait aren't refunded.

Taking a bed now doesn't lock you in

If your preferred home has no bed, you can take a place elsewhere for now and ask to transfer when one becomes available. Fair Deal goes with the person to any approved home, and the contribution stays the same. Keep in touch with your first-choice home so they know you're still waiting.