THE family of a vulnerable resident who appeared in a nursing home exposé has declared: “No one should be handled like our father was.”
An RTE Investigates programme recently uncovered a litany of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents at The Residence Portlaoise, in Co Laois, and Beneavin Manor, in Glasnevin, Dublin.
Both are run by Ireland’s top private nursing home provider Emeis Ireland, which apologised for the failings.
Amid the fallout from the explosive show, the Guy family described their shock and distress at seeing footage of their 80-year-old father Audeon being roughly handled at Beneavin Manor.
Seething son Paul Guy raged: “No one should have to go through what we’ve seen.
“No one should be handled like our father was.
“These are human people – people who lost their dignity and no one should have to go through that.”
Harrowing undercover footage broadcast last week showed residents crying for help, left in soiled clothes and being incorrectly handled.
Undercover investigators posing as healthcare workers went inside the two nursing homes after concerns were raised by whistle-blowers.
OAP Audeon’s daughter Sarah says relatives were left distraught by the treatment of their beloved dad.
She said: “Our dad is the loveliest man.
“He’d do anything for you, really kind, loving, charitable and a big hugger.”
Dubliner Audeon was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia which causes severe confusion and hallucinations following a bad fall late last year.
Unable to return home, Paul, Sarah and their other siblings Kassandra and Dave began the search for a suitable nursing home for their father.
They turned to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), and spent days sifting through the regulator’s nursing home inspection reports.
Their father Audeon moved into Beneavin Manor in January 2025 where he was assigned one-to-one care.
Paul recalled: “For Beneavin Manor we read the reports, and it seemed to be a very safe place to go.
“We looked at the brochures, I went and did the tour. It seemed to be fine.”
FAMILY’S CONCERNS
But even before the RTE expose, the Guy family told how they quickly had concerns about the nursing home.
Paul explained: “He was actually left alone many times.
“I have examples of him sitting on his own in the corridor ripping up pieces of paper which was meant to be some form of activity.
“I’ve witnessed him cold with a blanket wrapped around him and I’ve witnessed really poor personal care in terms of his toenails left for weeks to grow and rot.
“On another day there was urine all over the floor in his bathroom and there was no toilet seat. It just seemed to be a consistent flow of poor care for people who are in dire need of attention.”
SWEEPING REVIEW
Hiqa chiefs have launched a sweeping review of all nursing homes operated by the shamed Emeis Ireland group, who operate 27 facilities across the country.
“These are human people – people who lost their dignity and no one should have to go through that.”
Paul Guy
But Paul demanded accountability.
He said: “When I saw the actual footage, I was shocked, but it wasn’t a revelation.
“That’s what is unfortunate. We had done everything.
“We put in all the complaints, notified everyone that was required, got responses back, acknowledgement of all their mistakes, plans being put in place, and this still happened, and it happened to all the other people in the footage as well.
“That’s the bigger issue – there’s no accountability for this.”
The Guy family also called for the Government to urgently enact the Adult Safeguarding Bill – a law which they say could protect vulnerable individuals like their father from harm, abuse and neglect.
- Watch the full interview tonight on RTE Prime Time on RTE One and RTE Player
