NHI Care Awards 2017 Finalists

Nursing Home Director of Nursing/Person in Charge Award

Geraldine Doona
Carrigoran House, Co. Clare

Ms. Geraldine Doona is a registered general nurse and Midwife with 20 years extensive experience who worked in the acute services in the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. She is employed in Carrigoran House since 2010 firstly as a Clinical Nurse Manager II and was promoted to Director of Nursing in 2014. During this time she has completed her diploma in Dementia care and also holds a post graduate diploma in Gerontology from NUIG in 2013. Geraldine has significant knowledge in managing wounds and possesses certificates in wound care management and holds qualifications in nurse management.

Sharon Hennessy
St Doolagh’s Park Care & Rehabilitation Centre, Balgriffin, Co. Dublin

Sharon’s background has always been in the healthcare sector, having worked in the UK in the NHS in Psychiatry of Later Life. Sharon has worked in the private sector in care of the older person services in Ireland since 2002, and has worked in a variety of settings as a Director of Nursing including Nursing Homes, a Mental Health Hospital and since November 2015 she has been Director of Nursing in St Doolagh’s Park Care and Rehabilitation Centre, a specialist centre for adults with acquired brain injury requiring medium and slow stream rehabilitation.

Maura O’Sullivan
St Gobnait’s Nursing Home, Co. Limerick

Maura O Sullivan commenced her nurse training in intellectual disabilities in St.Vincents Centre, Lisnagry, Co.Limerick in 1987. After qualifying she worked as a staff nurse with the Sisters of Bon Sauveur in Dungarvan and St.Josephs Foundation, Charleville.She then progressed to Community C.N.S for adults with physical and intellectual disabilities with St.Josephs Foundation. In December 2010, Maura took over the management of the family business, St.Gobnaits Nursing Home,Ballyagran, from her mother. Maura is passionate about the holistic care of people with dementia and focusing on a persons retained abilities rather than those they have lost. This is Maura’s third time being shortlisted for this award.

Nursing Home Registered Nurse of the Year Award

Nuala Connolly
Clarenbridge Nursing Home, Co. Galway

Nuala began working in Clarenbridge NH in May 2013 as Clinical Nurse Manager 11 initially to care for residents with Acquired Brain and Spinal Injuries and has since been promoted to deputy to the person in charge. Nuala qualified in 2002 from Kings College London in the UK and further specialized in medical, respiratory and Brain and Spinal injury care. Nuala is committed to quality and safety in care and has flourished in her role. Nuala is a well-respected and highly regarded nurse manager. Nuala sets about what she does best which is ‘caring’ and commenced building strong relationships and bonds with residents and their families. Nuala focuses on person centered care and has been instrumental in reducing the number of residents transferred inappropriately to acute hospitals in the past two years by utilizing her clinical judgement in the area of neurological and respiratory care thus enhancing the resident’s quality of life.

Anabela Mendes
Silverstream Healthcare / Ratoath Manor Nursing Home, Co. Meath

Anabela Mendes started her career as general nurse in a private clinic in Portugal in 2008. She moved to Ireland in December 2013 to start working in Ratoath Manor Nursing Home as a care assistant for 2 months while she waited for her registration from An Board Altranais. Anabela started working in a Dementia unit and after 2 years applied for a vacancy place as Clinical Nurse Manager in her Nursing Home. Anabela started as a CNM in July 2016. She is extremely committed in her role, friendly and is an excellent leader that supports everyone that works with her. With support of her management, Anabela is undertaking the QQI Level 6 Leadership Programme.

Maeve Poff
Mowlam Healthcare / Killarney Nursing Home, Co. Kerry

Maeve graduated with BSc Honours in General Nursing from the Institute of Technology Tralee in 2013 and commenced working in Mowlam Killarney the following year. With an interest in care of the older person, Maeve became passionate about her work in Killarney Nursing Home and with the whole team strived for a better quality and service of care. Making changes in collaboration with management, made way for a more positive environment for the residents and a more enjoyable working environment for staff. Maeve was appointed senior staff nurse in 2015 and has undertaken a Diploma in Leadership this year.

Nursing Home Carer of the Year Award

Trevor Fawl
Clarenbridge Nursing Home, Co. Galway

Trevor Fawl commenced working in the Nursing Home in 2015 as a Care Assistant after a long career in the health and leisure industry. Trevor embraced a significant career change from working as a manager of a leisure centre in a large 4 Star Hotel to managing and delivering person centered care to residents in the nursing home. Trevor’s use of language and positive encouragement has given residents the belief they can extend boundaries and live rich and meaningful lives in the nursing home. He gained the respect and trust of the residents and dedicates his time and energy to ensuring all his interactions and interventions are meaningful and therapeutic for the resident wellbeing. He upskilled himself and completed a physiotherapy assistant course which is beneficial in caring for residents with acquired brain and spinal injuries. He champions everything that is positive and good about Health Care Assistants in nursing homes.

Sheila Renouf
Sonas Care Centre Ard na Gréine, Co. Sligo

Sheila began her career in the UK in the 1970s, completing her pupil Nurse training in mentally handicapped Nursing at the Manor Hospital, Epsom, Surrey. Since returning to Ireland in 1990 she has worked in Nursing Home Care for 26 years, and started work in Sonas Nursing Home Ard na Gréine in 2003. Sheila has become an integral part of the Nursing Home Community. Sheila believes for the most effective care to be delivered, working together is necessary.  Sheila is always patient, courteous and kind to both residents and staff even in the most stressful and challenging aspects of her role. Outside of work, she has been a committee member of the Enniscrone and district agricultural show for the past 26 years and is one of two chief stewards who organise the home industries section.

Churchill Yanez
Ferndene Nursing Home, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Churchill started working as a Health Care Assistant in 2009 and is a valuable team member of FNH. Churchill through the years has honed himself into becoming a highly skilled, confident and compassionate health care provider. He is committed to enhancing sensory stimulation to FNH residents and provides residents with musical and spiritual activities that can evoke emotions of old time memories, sense of spirituality and wellbeing. He is genuine and holistic in all his dealings with the residents. Churchill is selfless and genuine, always putting the resident first. He is also a licenced Sonas Practitioner, a dedicated member of the Activity team, wonderful colleague and an advocate to older people.

Nursing Home Social & Recreational Programme Award

Activities Team
Orwell Private, Rathgar, Dublin

Amy O’Driscoll has worked as part of the Activities Team at Orwell Private for the past two years. She along with her team bring energy, colour, joy, companionship, music, interest and of course fun to the life of our 150 residents seven days a week. Each member of the activities team brings different skills to the table – they are as diverse as our residents. Karen is our Music Director, Margaret specialises in Pastoral care, Amy leads the exercise and relaxation classes, Adam and Kat run the Men’s Shed, Pavel leads the games and movies, Kellie supports the team at weekends with her youth and enthusiasm and Jane adds the Va Va Voom ! Together they are a TEAM. Research has highlighted that the inclusion of the widest possible range of purposeful activities in long-term care enhances quality of life. The meaning the social programme at Orwell Healthcare gives to our residents is invaluable as self-esteem, self-worth and quality of life are increased.

Paula McCarthy & Veronica Callinan
Carrigoran House, Co. Clare

Paula McCarthy
Paula McCarthy is the Activities Coordinator with over 11 years experience. Paula is qualified in various activities suitable for elderly residents such as Sonas, Dementia and PALS go-for-life. She has an in-depth knowledge of every resident, which is adopted by Paula through her person centred approach. Paula has a particular talent for enticing various local performers and musicians to entertain the residents regularly, and has built up a strong rapport with community based groups and schools over the years. Paula’s excursions are a memorable highlight for the residents e.g. The Fleadh, Knock and Spancilhill. Paula has a wonderful team of volunteers who facilitate in the daily activities.

Veronica Callinan
Having completed her B.A Hons degree in Health Promotion, Veronica Callinan has been a welcome addition to the Activities Department. Since joining Carrigoran House in August 2016, Veronica has completed Sonas APC, Dementia and Behaviours that Challenge and workshops. Veronica has rolled out the Snoezelen Therapy to all residents and this initiative was selected by Sonas APC, where she was invited to be a guest speaker at the Annual Dementia Conference in Dublin this year, to highlight the benefits of this therapy mobile unit, which proves to be a great asset to residents. Veronica has a bright future in this organisation.

Teresa Reilly
Drumbear Lodge Nursing Home, Co. Monaghan

Teresa is the Activities Coordinator since May 2011. After completing her HCA course, she worked as a Carer in Drumbear. Before this she worked as a Sales assistant in a shop, as a waitress in a restaurant; taking stock and supervising deliveries in Dunnes Stores, where she won “staff member of the month”. Teresa is a Licenced Sonas practitioner since 2012, has completed CBT training, CarePALs Workshop, FITS Training, Imagination Gym. She was the first to bring nursing home residents to Lough Derg this year and is currently organising another intergenerational project – this time with Pre-schoolers.

Nursing Home Catering and Nutrition Award

Franco Duggan
Maypark House Nursing Home, Co. Waterford

Franco has worked in Maypark House Nursing Home as a Chef for 20 years. He is dedicated to providing a personalised service to the residents that is second to none. He gets very involved in the nutritional requirements and individual preferences of our residents and creates menus that are nutritious and tasty using locally sourced produce. Maypark House has a long tradition of hosting parties and celebrating special occasions and Franco never fails to create a menu to suit. From a Waterford Flag Cake for our Waterford Themed Garden party to a candlelit meal for residents & guests, he really is one of a kind and a key member of Maypark House Nursing Home.

Maura Moriarty
Ocean View Nursing Home, Co. Kerry

Maura is an experienced Chef and has worked as Catering Manager in Ocean View for the last nine years. She wears her heart on her sleeve, catering is her passion. She knows each resident, their likes, their dislikes, and more importantly there dietary requirements, ensuring the nutritional needs of all residents are catered for. It is said, the kitchen is the heart of a home, Maura has ensured her kitchen is the heart of our residents home. Her enthusiasm inspires those around her to constantly strive for choice and variety in the daily presentation of high quality nutritional meals.

Nutrition & Well Being Group
Haven Bay Care Centre, Co. Cork

The Nutrition and Well Being Committee comprises representations from all the team – both staff and residents. Weekly meetings are overseen by Patricia Noonan CNM, supported by Head Chef Par Karpf and Helen O’Regan Operations Manager. The Lead nurse on each floor collates information such as malnutrition risk, obesity, advice from dietician, residents preferences. Staff, residents and relatives feedback to the catering team who provide nutritional and enjoyable food for residents. The Committee has also produced a “Memoir of Recipes” featuring residents and staff’s favourite recipes. The efforts of the entire team through consultation and teamwork continuously strive to excel in identifying and meeting resident’s nutritional requirements.

Nursing Home Ancillary Worker Award

Matthew Lacey
Cara Care Centre & TLC Santry, Co. Dublin

Matthew Lacey is a qualified toolmaker, who has been working as the facility manager at TLC Santry and Cara Care for the past nine years. He is a creative individual who happily goes over and above what is required. He has great capacity for thinking outside the box. He uses his talents to design fixtures and fittings to add to enjoyment of residents. Matt designed the ‘Home Run’ project in his own time. It is a virtual bus that residents can drive down familiar streets promoting a sense of empowerment, reminiscence and communication with family and carers. This innovation has been evaluated by DCU as having an enriching effect on our residents lives. He is a family man supported by an artistic partner. With joint participation, they have added to the quality of life at TLC.

Maura Stewart
Clarenbridge Nursing Home, Co. Galway

Maura Stewart commenced work as a Receptionist in Clarenbridge Nursing home in 2014 having had a varied background in administrative work from personal assistant in a large multinational company to educational scheduling in GTI. Maura has travelled the world and is a fantastic communicator and multitasker’ from greeting residents and families at reception to making the tea and reassuring upset family members. She is the welcoming face of the nursing home and she is unique in every way’ both from her colourful dress sense to an all embracing emotional personality. She is renowned for going the extra mile for all the residents and their families and staff. She never says ‘No’. She is honest, sincere, fun loving, empathetic, hard-working, likeable, interesting and adventurous and stretches boundaries to benefit the residents. Just getting the emotion right’ is a unique quality of Maura’s and she is known for this. She is the best advocate for the residents as she can sense when something is not right and brings the concerns to the attention of the Person in Charge.

Jimmy Sunderland
St Joseph’s Centre, Shankill, Co. Dublin

Jimmy began his career in Saint Joseph’s as a carer in 1977. He was asked to open a day care service for elderly in Shankill in 1989, managing everything from the activities to the maintenance, gardening and transport. He then oversaw the building works for the new nursing home which opened in 1994. In 1998 he became the Maintenance and Safety manager. His building experience was again needed to oversee the remodelling project in 2015, which changed the traditional styled nursing home into six new lodges. He looked at the lodges through the eyes of the residents and created shops, bars, sheds, gardens, and all the décor to make these lodges individual homes for the people cared for in Saint Joseph’s. He has dedicated his 40 year working life to creating the best home from home for the residents of Saint Joseph’s. He is not just the maintenance manager – he is the Daddy of our home!

Nursing Home Community Initiative Award

Sinead Beirne & Team
Silverstream Healthcare Dunlavin Nursing Home, Co. Wicklow

Working in Care of the Older Person for over 15 years, mother of 2 Sinead remains passionate about her work. Sinead’s vision when recruited to commission the opening of Dunlavin Nursing Home in November 2016 was to create a nursing home that truly felt like home which would replicate all things traditional with the meaning of the word ‘home’ in Irish society……warmth, love and laughter. Sinead recruited a team who are dedicated , compassionate and resident focussed and with her team a community was created within the community of Dunlavin. Sinead with her crew and residents opened the doors of the Dunlavin Nursing Home to those near and far welcoming local clubs, cubs, musicians and artists. No one was excluded from the guest list with visits from the local Fire Men and the wonderful Camphill Community with their creative crafts. Sept 2017 saw the official opening of the Carers Café at Dunlavin Nursing Home offering support to those caring for loved ones in the community.

Sinead Gilligan & Gordon Glynn
Kiltormer Nursing Home, Co. Galway

Sinead Gilligan
Sinead is employed with Kiltormer Nursing Home for the past 2 years and has 7 years’ experience as a Care Assistant. Sinead is the Activities Co Ordinator in the Nursing Home and has just qualified as a Sonas Practitioner which she practices twice a week in the home. Sinead is also qualified as the Manual/Patient Handling Instructor since 2015. Sinead is very passionate about her job and loves to encourage all her Residents to get involved on a daily basis as she sees what a positive affect these activities have on the residents.

Gordon Glynn
Gordon is the manager/owner of the family run Centre for the last 11 years. Gordon previously worked in banking for 10 years and finished up to help out in the family business. Gordon is very involved in the local community and encourages as much involvement as possible. Gordon is very hands on in the centre with the residents and activities. Gordon is currently developing a mini pet-farm in the centre as an attraction to the residents/ families and the locals when they visit.

Clare McNally & Team
Stella Maris Nursing Home, Co. Westmeath

Clare McNally (Director of Nursing), Aoife Tynan (Staff Nurse) and John Berry (Care Assistant) have worked in Stella Maris Nursing Home for a combined period of 30 years. Stella Maris has always had a key focus to assist residents to remain active members of the community, however this team of 3 decided to take this further. Clare, Aoife and John came together and Forget Me Not Community Choir was established in January of this year. Their vision for the choir was to not only bring residents out of their nursing home but to bring all members of the community together and do it through a love of music. A special welcome is made to those living with Dementia and Special Needs. The choir currently has approx. 35 active members from local Nursing Homes, Rehabcare, St Hilda’s services as well as the wider community, it is inclusive of everyone. The choir is a relaxed, safe environment where the focus is on coming together and having fun. With singing, music and movement, it truly is an uplifting experience for all involved.

Nursing Home Innovations in Dementia Care Award

Carmel Hopkins
Castlemanor Nursing Home, Co. Cavan

Carmel Hopkins qualified as a nurse at the Meath Hospital Dublin. After travelling and working in Australia and the UK, she returned to Ireland in 1990 to take up a sister’s post at Beaumont Hospital. Carmel completed her BSc Nursing at Dublin City University in 1998. In 1990 Carmel moved to Cavan and began working in care of the elderly settings. She was appointed Deputy Director of Care at Castlemanor Nursing Home in 2009. Carmel has specialised in dementia care and has undertaken further training in this field through the University of Worcester. She has developed a number of initiatives in consultation with staff and relatives, and has ensured heightened awareness of the needs of dementia residents through a staffing skill-mix review.

Anne McNamara
Carrigoran House, Co. Clare

The introduction of the ‘Butterfly’ philosophy within a caring facility was initiated by Anne McNamara following her participation in Diploma level study Person Centred Dementia Care; “An Emotional Journey” completed in 2012. Anne was invited to lead Carrigoran House Dementia Specific Unit – St. Teresa’s in 2014 and over the last three years, Anne leads a supportive network of caregivers. The journey of residents living with Dementia, their families, friends and loved ones can only benefit as care-staff make a conscious effort of promoting well-being through occupation, in conjunction with protection of the personhood. As Clinical Nurse Manager Anne’s Departmental performance and energy focus on doing what we can do best; valuing the individual.

Dolores Reidy, Imelda Andrews and Imelda Thornton
Cara Care Centre, Santry, Co. Dublin

The team responsible for the innovation of the Garden Project in Cara Care Centre consists of Dolores Reidy (Waitress), Imelda Andrews (Health Care Assistant) and Imelda Thornton (Receptionist). Imelda Thornton has worked in the TLC company for 7 years, 6 of them in Cara Care, Dolores has worked in Cara Care for 6 years and Imelda Andrews for the past 2 years. The project idea came to light after the 3 team members discussed the benefits of the Dementia Garden at BLOOM. All 3 employees have a love for gardening and all brought their own expertise to the project and agreed that they could give the residents of Cara Care a place to relax, enjoy the scents, colour, bird life and sensory touch of this special garden.

Nursing Home End of Life Care Award

Jill Fitzgerald
Haven Bay Care Centre, Co. Cork

As our Champion in end of life care, Jill completed the “End of Life Care: A Link Nurse Initiative for Residential Care Settings” in 2012. Since then, Jill leads the End of Life Care Committee which has transformed the way that end of life care is delivered. This includes providing education for staff, candle lit guard of honour, being the link person for Advanced Care Directives pilot site. This offers residents the opportunity to discuss their wishes around their end of life care. Jill offers guidance and support to staff who are caring for residents at end of life and has also organised grief counselling. Jill facilitates learning through audits and debriefs after residents have died.

Maypark House Nursing Home Team
Maypark House Nursing Home, Co. Waterford

Maypark is one of those rare homes which is quintessential of what the public picture in their mind. It is comfortable, homely and set in lovely grounds with views of the river Suir. The home has an excellent reputation in the local community for ensuring quality of life at the end of life. The core team devoted to end of life care consists of the Operations Manager, the Director of Nursing the Senior Nurse Manager and the lead nursing and care staff. The team becomes part of the residents extended family. They live through one of the most significant parts of the resident’s life… their death. Many staff are trained in palliative care including the DON who has a European Certificate in Essential Palliative Care. The team act as role models for new staff members, dedicated to enhancing their confidence and skills. They strive to provide that little extra care to be a part of the home, not just to work there.

Swift Unit Personnel
Knightsbridge Nursing Home, Co. Meath

The swift unit is an area of the home dedicated to the provision of End of Life Care and is recognised by all as an area of peace and tranquillity within a busy nursing home. The team on this unit have used their in depth experience and extensive end of life training to strike the perfect balance between clinical aspects of end of life care as led by the nurses and the holistic, person centred care delivered to an outstanding standard by the care team. The team facilitate the needs of the Resident and family with a person centred care approach, involving all aspects of care including the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. The truly unique and adaptable approach of the swift care team ensures that each resident feels safe and valued at every stage of their journey.

WINNER – Nursing Home Resident Achievement Award 2017

Vincent Corrigan PHD
Mount Hybla Private, Co. Dublin

Vincent Corrigan was born in County Westmeath on the 31/08/1935. Vincent was sent to America in 1952. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology in 1980.

Vincent returned from New York to reside in Mount Hybla Private in February 2016. Since he came to Mount Hybla he has been prolific in his writings. He has just completed his second book In August 2017.

Vincent has been leading a project within the Nursing Home with one of our local secondary schools (Mount Sackville Secondary School). The transition year students with Vincent and the care team undertook an anthropological project about the origins of the Irish.

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