One women is concerned her mother "wouldn't want men working with her on intimate care" while she stays in a nursing home.

Angeline told Lunchtime Live she is uncomfortable with the care her mother receives from men while she recovers from pneumonia.

“I just noticed there were men taking these three ladies in the ward to the bathroom,” she said.

“One or two of the men had said to me that they had showered [my mother] that morning.” 

Angeline questioned why her mother was not receiving intimate care such as washing, changing and toileting from a woman. 

“I work in care myself, and the men that I work with do not work with women simply because they would be leaving themselves to allegations and it just wouldn't be comfortable for them,” she said. 

“I wouldn’t be walking around the house with brothers and my father around in my underwear. You would be covered up.” 

'Dignity and respect'

Angeline said she needs to stand up for her own mother’s dignity and respect. 

“In light of the Emily report, we need to really stand up for our elderly,” she said.

“We have to be their voice if they’re not able to voice their own opinions.” 

The two women sharing a space with her mother had Alzheimer's, and Angeline worried they would not be able to speak up for themselves if uncomfortable. 

"I’m not suggesting for a moment that these men are doing anything they shouldn’t be doing," Angeline sad. “[But] I would be very uncomfortable if a male care staff came to take me to the toilet. 

“It’s all about respect and dignity and real care for what they would want if they could say it themselves.” 

'Blanket statements'

Male nurse Stefan said people shouldn’t make “blanket statements” about male carers. 

“I do understand her point,” he said. “But at the same time, in terms of human resources and hiring at the HSE, everyone is Garda-vetted, everyone is trained... there is always dignity and respect at the core of what we do.” 

“This blanket statement that men shouldn't work with women – life doesn’t work that way.” 

Stefan said when a resident or patient is incapacitated, carers – male and female – still ask permission and check the resident’s wellbeing before doing anything. 

“There is the offer and consideration before anything is done," he said. 

“When there’s an issue of capacity, it does to the next of kin or the primary care giver and everything is confirmed before anything is done.” 

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