An elderly woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken out about leaving the care home she resided in in order to return to live in the house she loves.
The 86-year-old was living alone in Munster, but after a bad fall her family became concerned and decided to find a residential place for her.
The care home was in Dublin, near her daughters, but far from her home and her friends.
Speaking to the Irish Times, the lady said: “They were worried for me. I was on my own and they said it would only be for a few weeks, or so I thought.”
However the respite turned into 10 months, and while she said the nursing home was lovely, she had felt institutionalised.
She said: “It was very nice and comfortable, but I felt terrible. I was going out of my head, there was nothing to do.”
The lady’s request to leave was refused without family permission, and she was threatened by the home who said they would call the Gardaí to restrain her.
“The person in charge wouldn’t let me leave. She locked the room and said I couldn’t go until my family signed me out,” she lamented.
In the end woman had enough and discharged herself, travelling home by taxi, at a cost of over €350, and is “delighted” she’s now able to do simple things, like meet friends or do her own shopping.
“All I want is to be able to stay at home,” she stated.
Speaking to the Irish Times, Nursing Homes Ireland responded stating they were unaware of the case, but that any discharges have to be done under regulation.