Abstract
Background: Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that all individuals should enjoy with the expectation that all persons are treated with fairness, respect, equality and dignity. In the nursing home sector, adherence to human rights should take account of residents inputting on decisions on their lives and participating as fully as possible in decisions about their care and support. The ever-growing demands on care systems in Ireland have shifted care provision from hospitals to community-based settings. However, currently there is limited information available on rights-based approaches applied within organisational service delivery and individual care practices. Implementing a rights-based approach means ensuring professionals understand and integrate human rights principles and core values into their practice. This study aims to develop a comprehensive and informed pathway for integrating human rights into the nursing home sector in Ireland.
Approach: The study will be conducted in three phases. Phase 1: A rapid scoping review will be conducted which will assess the global evidence regarding human rights standards adherence and infringements in nursing homes. Phase 2: Qualitative data will be collected by means of focus group discussions with key stakeholders in the nursing home sector in Ireland to explore the viability of developing a human rights pathway. Four focus groups will be convened with 8-10 participants recruited to each (n= 32-40). The data collected will be critically appraised and analysed using a thematic narrative analysis approach. Phase 3 will integrate the evidence from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the study and outline the recommendations for developing a contemporary human rights pathway for integrating human rights into the nursing home sector in Ireland.
Outcomes of interest: This study will identify barriers and challenges associated with the introduction of human rights approaches in the Irish context and develop a human rights pathway for the nursing home sector.
Implications: This study will provide a pathway for integrating human rights into nursing homes in Ireland, empowering care providers to better apply human rights principles to their practice.