There was a sharp increase in the number of sudden deaths in nursing homes in 2020 and 2021, according to a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the state health authority.
The number of unexpected deaths recorded during this period was almost two and a half times higher than in 2019.
Before the pandemic in 2019, there were 709 unexpected deaths in nursing homes.
There were 1,833 sudden deaths in 2020 and 1,895 in 2021.
In an overview of home care, the regulator says only 12 residences did not report a confirmed or suspected case of covid-19 between March 2020 and December 2021.
The HIQA report is based on the Chief Inspector Rule on Designated Aged Care Centres in 2020 and 2021. 947 inspections were carried out during that period.
91% of nursing homes reported at least one case of the virus during this period.
Nursing homes were found to be compliant or substantially compliant with 85% of the regulations evaluated.
However, the inspections also identified areas for improvement, such as fire safety, governance, and infection management and control.
The report outlines the significant negative impact the pandemic has had on the lives of residents.
It says the biggest problem for residents was a sense of isolation from their families, friends, and community at large.
It found that for much of 2020 and the first part of 2021, many residents continued to isolate themselves in their rooms.
Many residents have felt frustrated and alone when visitation restrictions have kept family and friends from visiting.
The report said that Covid-19 restrictions meant that many residents were receiving end-of-life care without a loved one to support them.
It says some family members and friends are traumatized by the experience of looking out a bedroom window as a loved one dies.
Others have expressed concern that their family member died on their own or did not receive the care they needed.
It says nursing home staff have also been greatly affected by her experiences.
The report found that the launch of the national vaccination program in December 2020 was a game changer for residents.
It shows that 30 nursing homes closed between the beginning of 2020 and the end of 2021.
Twenty-five centres have closed voluntarily and five centres have been closed by the chief inspector.
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