NHI CARE AWARDS

Veronica Birchall
TLC Centre

Veronica has been a team member at TLC Maynooth for over 6 years and is a Senior Healthcare Assistant leading a team of HCA’s. Veronica demonstrates person centred care by ensuring all residents are known in detail, promoting their personal choice and being pro-active in maintaining resident’s dignity and individuality. Her dedication and commitment to resident’s holistic needs are paramount in her delivery of care. Veronica volunteers and promotes social activities accompanying residents on outings and spearheaded a campaign to promote positive self-image amongst residents by setting up pampering kits. Families often remark on her in-depth knowledge of their loved one and her focus on the finer details of their care.

Kathleen Hanrahan
Clarenbridge Nursing Home

Clarenbridge Nursing Home is one of five nursing homes in the Windmill group and is committed to an inclusive Social and Recreational Programme. This is done by tailoring programmes to the respective interests (past and present), cultures and values of all the residents. The core team responsible for developing and running this intergenerational programme is made up of a skilled activities coordinator, two occupational therapists and two activities assistants. However one of the unique factors which makes this a truly person centred and holistic programme is the involvement of all the staff in the nursing home. The philosophy is to have a biopsychosocial model of care whereby all the staff contribute to the resident’s life in the home. Community integration is an integral focus of the programme. Residents are involved in the Octopus Swimming Club in Kilcornan; the Active in Age group in Oranmore and extensive social outreach with the Irish Wheelchair Association. Productive and vocational opportunities in the programme include the resident’s community based pop up clothes shop, stall at the local market and the organic poly tunnel. An evolving range of activities, groups and outings are facilitated to ensure choice and variety for the residents such as: IT interaction, SONAS, boccia, Ceili Music and lots more. The goal of this truly team driven programme is to facilitate active aging, positive engagement and living life to the full.

Catering & Hospitality Team
Knightsbridge Nursing Home

Laurentia leads the team in Knightsbridge Care Home. Laurentia originally trained in Cathal Brugha Street and has worked in major cities, London, Sydney and Dublin. Laurentia has also gained worldwide experience as a chef as she took on the challenge of riding a motorbike from Sydney to Dublin.

The ethos of our catering team is that the resident is central in the development of all aspects of dining. All residents are treated as individuals with individual meal plans where needed. The catering team have developed the nutritional task force which is aimed at reducing the number of residents at risk and treating residents who are at risk. Year on year audits have proved this to be a success. In 2014 alone the team reduced the number of people at risk by half. The catering team takes an individual approach and personally meets all of the residents on a regular basis. They also ensure the dining experience is suitable for all residents, be they young or old. Different meal plans are available. This is evidenced through our good wholesome homemade food, restaurant style service and a coffee shop to meet both nutritional and social needs of all of our residents. The team works tirelessly as they encompass the whole resident dietary requirements.

Fergal Dunne
Knightsbridge Nursing Home

Fergal started working in Knightsbridge on our opening day eight years ago. Fergal started as a carer and it was plain to be seen that his hospitality would work really well in our coffee shop. Fergal has years’ experience working in the hospitality sector and in his spare time has visited outreach in Moldova, working as a volunteer with orphaned children. He also managed under aged hurling teams. Fergal helped set up a golf society in memory of his friend who passed away.

Fergal gets involved in all aspects of Knightsbridge including being the heart and soul of the coffee shop and indeed our community. Fergal will dress up as anything from Tina Turner to Santa Claus to entertain the residents and put a smile on their faces. Fergal is capable of knowing all residents personally including their life histories so far. Eg. When he goes to Knock he would bring back holy water for the residents. When at the races he places bets and brings back programmes from hurling/football matches. Fergal’s mantra is “little things can make a big difference” and this is why he is such a success in Knightsbridge.

Michelle Watters & Breege Conlon
Moorehall Lodge

Originally from Ardee, Michelle trained as an RGN in the UK and returned to Ireland in 1993. She is now proud mother to three girls and one boy. Michelle was the first nurse to work in Moorehall Lodge Ardee, while on a career break from the HSE. She then left the HSE in 2010 to work full-time with Moorehall Lodge Ardee where she is now Joint team Leader in Setanta Household. Michelle and her team specialise in Dementia Care using the Butterfly approach with community initiatives at the heart of these developments.

Breege is originally from Ardee and is proud mother to three children. Breege started out her career at Moorehall Lodge Ardee as a carer in March 1999. In recent years she has developed the role of Retirement Village Coordinator and has made extensive connections between the nursing home, retirement village and the broader community. An active participant of various outdoor pursuits and a volunteer with Ardee Hospice, Breege is committed to connecting people whereever they may live.

Social Care Team
Oaklodge Nursing Home

Our team is made up of Nurses, healthcare assistants, activity staff, management and volunteers who respond to the social care needs of residents. Coordinated by the activity carers Theresa Horgan and Eileen Kennealy, the team is an integral part of the care team in Oaklodge. Everyone tries to anticipate what residents would like through careful listening to their stories and no request is ever a problem Projects undertaken include, art, poetry, letter writing, vintage cars, knit and natter, fundraising and of course the Oaklodge Choir.

Sinead Beirne
Annabeg Nursing Home

Sinead qualified as a registered general Nurse in 1995 from St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin and was one of a select few re-employed by St. Vincent’s to work in the Oncology Unit where she spent four years. Upon completing a Diploma in Management Studies Sinead’s took up her first Director of Nursing role in Montenotti Care Center Cork moving then to become Director of Nursing with Silverstream Healthcare in Dublin.

Sinead joined Annabeg Nursing Home in 2006 as Director of Nursing and has been instrumental in creating a centre of excellence at Annabeg and placing person centred care at the core of the home’s approach.

Henry Delaney
Powdermill Nursing Home

Henry was born in Cork in 1930. He attended Greenmount National School and went on to Cork Vocational School. Following this he trained as a mechanic in the Lee Garage in Cork and completed his City and Guilds exams. Henry then opened his own successful business called Pouladuff Motors in 1970.

He always loved gardening and was also a great road bowler.

In 1954 he married his wife Sheila who passed away in 2003 leaving Henry heartbroken as they were never apart. They had six children, one of whom sadly passed away in 2010. Henry has twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren with the fifth on the way. Henry moved to The Powdermill Nursing Home in August 2013, which was a very difficult transition and it took him a while to adapt and settle. However, with encouragement from staff and Pam one of our activities co-ordinators, his passion for gardening was reignited and this venture has blossomed and spread to many other residents in the Home. Henry’s focus has changed completely from his previous life at home to his new life within the Powdermill environment.

He has been an inspiration to us all.

Pat Durcan
Former Proprietor of Dalkey Lodge Nursing Home & NHI Director

Pat Durcan was proprietor of Dalkey Lodge Nursing Home in south Dublin for 25 years. Throughout that time Pat has been involved and a leader of the representative organisations that preceded NHI. Pat served on the Board of NHI as Regional Director representing Dublin Wicklow for 4 years contributing greatly also as an active regional member. Pat was generous with his time and advice to the organisation and also to individual members over many years.
His outstanding contribution to NHI and his enlightened leadership of the sector over many years was particularly evident during the introduction of the new regulatory regime. Pat devoted himself to his nursing home and the sector at large.

Pat is married to Gillian for the past 33 years and they have one daughter, Avril.