Nursing Home Director of Nursing/Person in Charge Award

Yvonne McCarthy
Haven Bay Care Centre, Co. Cork

Yvonne joined Haven Bay Care Centre as Director of Care in 2010 after filling this role in a number of other nursing homes. Yvonne is an inspirational leader. Down to earth, open and approachable, she adopts a ‘can do’ team based approach with the resident at the centre.

The ideas and innovations which Yvonne has brought to Haven Bay have changed the lives of those in her care and those in her charge. Yvonne has promoted ‘Continuous Learning and Training’ as a way of life for staff at Haven Bay. By promoting education and development she moves the team forward to deliver care at the highest standard. All staff are encouraged to be better than they ever believed they could be.

Yvonne’s relationships with wider multidisciplinary team has enabled Haven Bay become involved in pilot programmes that have resulted in improvements in resident care. One of these was ‘Let me Decide’ programme on Advanced Care Directives resulting in residents making their wishes around end of life known. She has also represented nurses on NHI nursing committee and is now a member of National Multidisciplinary advisory group on ‘The Clinical Guideline Development for Appropriate Antipsychotic Prescribing in People with Dementia’

Yvonne’s door is always open to staff, residents and families and she gives of herself far beyond her working hours. Each residents journey begins and ends with Yvonne and is a safer, happier and more satisfying journey because of her care and dedication.

Nursing Home Registered Nurse of the Year Award

Mel Uy
Hamilton Park Care Facility, Co. Dublin

Mel commenced working in Hamilton Park as ADoN and Clinical Auditor in 2017. Mel qualified in 1993 from the Philippines before settling in St James Hospital as a CNM2 and completed his Gerontological and Specialist Qualification in Trinity College Dublin and management qualification. He developed the 3 tier Quality Monitoring system in clinical auditing to ensure the effectiveness and continuity of best care delivery. Mel is very focused on person-centred care approach and would come in during off hours if his clinical assessment and skill is needed to avoid residents being transferred to an acute care setting and provide the residents with the best quality of life. Mel is also the designated Data Protection and Safeguarding Officer of the facility.

Nursing Home Carer of the Year Award

Marie Moynihan
Mowlam Healthcare – Killarney Nursing Home, Co. Kerry

Marie Moynihan began working as a Care Assistant in Killarney Nursing Home in 2012, and has since been promoted to Senior Carer. She previously trained and worked in the United Kingdom as a State Enrolled Nurse where she gained valuable experience in both Hospitals and Nursing Homes. Marie is passionate about the holistic care of people with dementia and she promotes patient centred care at all times. She is a big advocator for all things that benefit the daily lives of the residents. Marie has gained the respect and trust of both the residents and her colleagues.

Nursing Home Social & Recreational Programme Award

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

Sinead is employed with Kiltormer Nursing Home for the past 3 years and has 8 years’ experience as a Care Assistant. Sinead is the Activities Co Ordinator in the Nursing Home and is qualified as a Sonas Practitioner which she practise twice a week in the home. Sinead is also qualified as the Manual/Patient Handling Instructor since 2015 and also a fire safety trainer. 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 is the manager/owner of the family run Centre for the last 12 years. Gordon previously worked in banking for 10 years and finished up to help run the family business with his brother Derek. 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 has opened a new mini pet-farm in the centre as an attraction to the residents/ families and the locals when they visit.

Nursing Home Excellence in Dining and Nutrition

Grey Makoni
Carrigoran House, Co. Clare

Born in Zimbabwe, Grey joined Carrigoran House in 2000 and was promoted to Catering Manager in 2010.He has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing a dietary and nutritional service to all the residents and staff.Grey holds a Diploma in Professional Cookery from Limerick Institute of Technology, and Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology and has worked in some top restaurants in Clare.Grey is continually updating his menu and preparing and serving high standard meals with great emphasis placed on individual choice, variety and seasonality.

Nursing Home Ancillary Worker Award

Maura Stewart
Clarenbridge Nursing Home, Co. Galway

Maura Stewart joined the Windmill Nursing Group in 2014 and is located at reception in the Clarenbridge Nursing Home. She is the welcoming face of the nursing home where she meets and greets people. She is passionate about her work and is a strong advocate on behalf of the residents hearing their concerns and addressing them appropriately. Maura is central to the daily running of the home and ensures that all aspects of the residents’ wellbeing is addressed. Just getting the emotion right’ is a unique quality of Maura’s and she is known for this. She has introduced resident initiatives which have improved the quality of life of the residents. Her approach is both holistic, imaginative and interesting and she truly deserves this award for all she has done for and with the residents.

Nursing Home Community Initiative Award

Clara Hutchinson
Signature Care Killerig, Co.Carlow

Clara is employed as Activities Co-Ordinator with Signature Care Killerig since 2017. Having obtained a MA in Music Therapy from the University of Limerick, Clara believes in the power of music in bringing people together. Clara set up a weekly community choir for residents of the nursing home, children from the local primary school and members of the wider community. Clara approaches her work with creativity and enthusiasm and has been teaching and lecturing in the uses of music in healthcare for many years. Clara is currently developing a performance space within the nursing home for community events and concerts.

Nursing Home Excellence in Dementia Care

Norma Sheehan
St Joseph’s Centre Shankill, Co. Dublin

Saint Joseph’s Shankill, a residential home for 60 people living with dementia also offering Day Care and respite for people living with dementia.
Over the last 5 years Saint Joseph’s has undergone a major transformation both culturally and environmentally. The cultural change was inspired by David Sheard, who was speaking at a conference that Director of Nursing; Norma Sheehan attended, and she knew that in order to deliver real person centred care to our residents living with dementia we had to adopt the Butterfly Model of care and become a Butterfly Home.

The majority of nursing homes in Ireland care for people using a medical model of care and up to fairly recently so did Saint Joseph’s Shankill. A medical model of care focuses mainly on physical care which can be excellent but by its nature is very task orientated so that people tend to fit into schedules and what suits the running of the home rather than what suits the person best.

The team at Saint Joseph’s Shankill led by Norma Sheehan, Director of Nursing are all very proud of what has been attained; A Level One Butterfly Quality of Life award from Dementia Care Matters and changing the end of life care through the Irish Hospice Foundations CEOL Programme. These two programmes work hand in hand as dementia is terminal illness and we now can allow people to live and to die in the best person centred way possible. Residents no longer just exist waiting to die, they know they still matter and feel loved and cherished right until the very end.

It was a long journey of change with many hiccoughs along the way. But the team believed in their vision and now would never return to the old way!

Every moment matters at Saint Joseph’s Shankill.

Nursing Home End of Life Care Award

Compassionate End of LifeGroup
Mowlam Healthcare – Caherass Nursing Home, Co. Limerick

The Compassionate End of Life Group in Caherass commenced in 2015 by participating in a pilot programme called “A Journey of Change” with the Irish Hospice Foundation. Since then the group has developed and grown into a consistently performing team, passionate about improving end of life care standards. The CEOL group is comprised of ten members of staff across all disciplines within Caherass. The CEOL groups’ philosophy and ethos is to facilitate an environment of openness around end of life so that staff can deliver individualised end of life care as decided by the resident.

WINNER – Nursing Home Resident Achievement Award 2018

Collette Kennedy
Esker Lodge Nursing Home, Co. Cavan

Collette Kennedy, originally from Dublin, is currently a resident of Esker Lodge in Cavan. Collette has lived in Esker Lodge since May 2014.

Collette has conquered many obstacles in her life, to overcome a plethora of medical conditions and physical challenges. With grit and a determination to overcome her challenges, she has flourished. Collette aspired to continue her passion for hairdressing and is a fantastic support to our weekly hairdresser. Collette’s contributions extends to supporting other residents, gardening, social coordinator … the list is endless. Collette is the life and soul of Esker Lodge events. She has overcome many hurdles because of her admirable resilience. Collette is friend to everyone within our Esker Lodge community.

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