Caring with Excellence & Enriching Lives by Nursing Homes Ireland

Caring with Excellence & Enriching Lives ■ CHOOSING A NURSING HOME Opening the door to quality living and quality care

■ NURSING HOME EMPLOYMENT Valuable employment in communities across Ireland

Painting a picture of nursing home life NHI Care Awards 2013

16 page guide to the private & voluntary nursing home sector

Celebrating Excellence in Care

CONTENTS 03

OPENING THE DOOR TO QUALITY LIVING AND QUALITY CARE

CONSIDER IDEAL ATTRIBUTES AS EXCELLENT CARE AWAITS

TOMMY’S INSPIRATION PAINTS POSITIVITY OF NURSING HOME LIFE

SECTOR’S HEALTHCARE & JOBS POTENTIAL MUST BE REALISED

The dedicated care provided in nursing homes enables those at the centre of nursing home life – the residents – to live happy and fulfilling lives

You have the right to choose where to live and you should consider carefully what it is you want from your new home

The NHI Care Awards 2013 Resident Achievement Award Winner is a remarkable, inspirational individual who is testament to what can be achieved through the excellent care provided in nursing homes.

The healthcare and jobs potential of the private and voluntary nursing home sector must be realised to ensure required additional capacity of 10,000 is fulfilled

SECRETARY GENERAL ADDRESSES NHI CONFERENCE NURSING HOMES IRELAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE HEARS OF ‘TICKING TIMEBOMB’

A NEW HORIZON THAT’S BRINGING HAPPINESS

NURSING HOMES: VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS IRELAND

14 15

Residents of nursing homes in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Tipperary and Wexford speak of their experiences of nursing home life

The private and voluntary nursing home sector has the potential to create up to 1,000 jobs per annum over the over the next ten years

NHI CARE AWARDS 2013: SPONSOR TESTIMONIALS

NHI CARE AWARDS 2013 Over 500 people celebrated outstanding care in the private and voluntary nursing home sector

www.nhi.ie

www.nhicareawards.ie

Celebrating Excellence In Care Minister for Health Dr James Reilly addressed those attending the Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards 2013

ow in its fourth year, I am delighted to see that the Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards is going from strength to strength. Building on the momentum of previous years, NHI has successfully embedded these annual awards in the health sector calendar and rightly so. We are all aware that making the transition from home to nursing home can be a challenging proposition for older people and their families. Staff, residents and the vital links maintained between the homes and the local community all contribute in making this transition easier. This is acknowledged in the different

categories of awards being presented tonight. The nursing home sector continues to promote best practice in residential care. Tonight you are here to recognise, honour, celebrate, and it gives me great pleasure to have this opportunity to acknowledge your efforts. This evening is a fitting tribute to your efforts in making such a positive impact to the lives of others. I would like to congratulate all those associated with tonight’s event and I wish you all an enjoyable evening.

Dr James Reilly TD Minister for Health

Caring with Excellence & Enriching Lives

aring with Excellence & Enriching Lives provides an insight into nursing home life and the excellent care provided within NHI member homes. For persons considering nursing home care, it offers important information in respect of choosing a nursing home and the support available. In communities across Ireland, nursing home residents are living very happy and fulfilling lives in 350+ NHI member homes. They live in dedicated ‘home from home’ healthcare settings that provide specialist care to meet the complex health requirements of 21,500+ persons. This supplement provides a real insight into life in a nursing home. It informs of ‘home from home’ settings within our local communities that provide excellent care and bring together happiness, humour, support, compassion, creativity, talent, joy, and friendship. Residents share their stories of nursing home life. It commemorates the NHI Care Awards 2013, which brought 500 people together to recognise and honour outstanding care that is provided in nursing homes across the country.

NHI understands the move to a nursing home can be a daunting experience and valuable advice and information for persons considering such a move is provided Caring with Excellence & Enriching Lives also outlines the critical contribution the private and voluntary nursing home sector is making towards healthcare delivery and job facilitation. This supplement informs of employment within such settings and, with a co-ordinated strategy to meet the significant growth in requirement for long-term residential care, opportunity to create 10,000 sustainable jobs in Irish communities over the next ten years. Caring with Excellence & Enriching Lives will provide you, the reader, with an insight into the speciality that is nursing home care and inform of the importance to develop the sector to meet our ageing population’s care requirements.

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO

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Celebrating Excellence in Care

Opening the door to quality living and quality care

The dedicated care provided in nursing homes enables those at the centre of nursing home life – the residents – to live happy and fulfilling lives

appiness, warmth, friendship, camaraderie, humour, trust, love, hope: virtues that embody life within nursing homes. Your move to a nursing home is a beginning of a new stage of your life. A dedicated, committed and caring team will excel in meeting your health and social care requirements. Nursing home life is centred around enabling you live a happy and fulfilling life. Understandably, the move to a nursing home carries with it anxiety, apprehension and uncertainty. Such emotions are understandable and natural. This is a move to a new living environment and a transition to a new way of life. It is important to realise the move opens up a new way of living suited to your day-to-day living requirements. It will open up a new world of opportunity for you. Remember, the decision to move to a nursing home is a hugely positive one. Nursing homes are designed to be

comfortable and relaxed places to live. They provide specially-trained staff, a wide range of activities and opportunities to meet new people and to make friends. And remember nursing homes are ‘homes’ to over 26,000 people in Ireland. Moving to a nursing home will introduce you to a new community of friendship, support, care, activity and quality living. You will: • Meet new friends with shared life stories and interests • Receive round-the-clock expert nursing care and support from dedicated staff • Be afforded opportunities to take part in a range of social and recreational activities that will enhance your quality of life • Receive the encouragement and support to enable you to learn new skills • Take pleasure in continuing to enjoy your favorite pastimes • Be supported to live independently

Independence Nursing home care is designed to let you live independently and fulfill your potential. Before you move into the nursing home, staff will meet you to talk about your health and general needs. This meeting will focus on your abilities and your preferences. The staff will advise you if you need any aids or adaptations and assist you in obtaining such supports to assist you to remain independent. Care planning Nursing home staff will prepare your ‘care plan’. This will include things such as what foods you like or don’t like, and what time you want to get up or go to bed. Your preferences will be written down so that all the staff will know your likes and dislikes. Staff will review your care plan with you regularly or more often if you want or if your needs change. It’s important to know that,

in the nursing home, you have the right to choose what you want or don’t want. Visitors & keeping in contact Visitors are very welcome to nursing homes. All nursing homes have comfortable visitor rooms where you can meet with family and friends, often in private. In addition, nursing homes can arrange other ways of keeping in touch such as telephone, email and Skype.

Quality Living, Quality Care your guide to nursing home life Nursing Homes Ireland recently launched Quality Living, Quality Care – Living in a Nursing Home a guide that provides comprehensive advice informing of nursing home life. It deals directly with concerns of persons moving to nursing homes and details the health and social care provided within these dedicated healthcare settings. It features advice on:  Choosing a nursing home,  Facilities,  Activities,  Food and nutrition,  Complaints procedures,  The Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal).

Festivity: Residents and staff of Ashford House Nursing Home, Co Dublin, celebrating Bloomsday

Testimonials from residents living within nursing homes and staff working within such settings help provide further reassurance for persons moving to a nursing home. “NHI recognises the move to a nursing home brings with it uncertainty, anxiety and apprehension,” Tadhg Daly, Nursing Homes Ireland CEO explains. “This guide is designed to provide very valuable and important information in respect of nursing home life and provide comfort and reassurance for persons moving to a nursing home and their family and friends.” You can download a copy of Quality Living, Quality Care via the Nursing Homes Ireland website www.nhi.ie (it is featured in the publications section) or you can contact NHI head office at (01) 429 2570 to request a copy of the guide to be forwarded by post.

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Outings: Residents & staff of Cairnhill Nursing Home enjoy the Summer sunshine on an outing to Powerscourt Gardens, Co Wicklow Holiday & overnight stays The nursing home will facilitate your wishes for holidays or overnight stays outside of the home, wherever possible, and will help you to prepare for these. Treasured possessions Nursing homes allow you bring treasured possessions such as photos, paintings, ornaments and, in some cases, furniture to the home. Nursing home staff want you to have your personal belongings around you because they understand how precious these are to you. Activities Nursing home staff create happy, lively environments to live within. Residents, family and staff choose the day-to-day activities. These may include gardening, cooking, music, shopping, exercise or any other activity that you and your friends enjoy. Many nursing homes employ specialist staff to organise activities to match residents’ needs, abilities and interests. As far as possible, staff will make sure that you continue to enjoy the pastimes you love. Nursing homes also give you the chance to try new leisure activities and learn new skills. Homes are also very pro-active in engaging with their local communities to bring local people and residents together for social activities. Nursing home facilities Nursing homes generally have separate rooms for activities, visitors and to watch TV with others. Many have rooms for reflection and gardens where you can relax. You can even help in the garden, if you want. Some homes have education centres, gyms, spa areas and shops. Food Nursing homes employ chefs and catering teams to prepare meals to the highest

standards. They change menus regularly to give greater variety – guided by what residents like and ask for. Some nursing homes have their own restaurants and can arrange for you to talk with a dietician about your dietary and nutritional needs.

management and under the regulations governing nursing homes, you have the right to make a complaint and to have it dealt with. The nursing home will inform you of its

complaints policy. If you are concerned about your care or the care of a family member, you can contact the Health Information and Quality Authority or HIQA for short.

Resident councils Most nursing homes have residents’ and relatives’ councils that afford those living within the home a say in its running. Many also have volunteer advocates who speak on behalf of residents who cannot speak for themselves. The councils meet to talk about issues that affect residents’ daily lives in the nursing home. Their suggestions and comments are given to management to improve services. Complaints Your views and opinions are very important to the nursing home. Managers and staff need to know what you are happy with and also not happy with so that they can improve the care you receive. Each nursing home also has a formal policy on complaints

Moving to a nursing home will introduce you to a new community of friendship, support, care, activity and quality living.

Gardening: Seamus Jones, pictured left, a resident of Millhouse Care Centre, Co Wexford, undertaking a spot of gardening with the assistance of head of maintenance Derek Butler

ADVERTORIAL

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Technological advancements are improving nursing home care W

ith an ageing population, new technology provided and developed by Tunstall Emergency Response is becoming more and more invaluable to Ireland’s growing Nursing Home sector, saving time, resource and money, while providing clients with individualised care plans and constant supervision. NURSE CALL Tunstall Emergency Response’s Nursecall System, called Flamenco, is perfect for small nursing homes up to large multi-floor hospitals. Flamenco provides round-the-clock monitoring of patients with a variety of ways employed to alert staff to those needing assistance. Nursing Homes and hospitals can implement the best alert systems to suit them from traditional, over-the-door light displays and buzzers to more advanced options of paging systems and voice communications. Voice communications, allowing patients to speak directly to staff either at the nurse’s station or via cordless phones carried by staff, allows the team to quickly assess the nature and urgency of the alert and respond appropriately. The Flamenco Nursecall system can also be incorporated into media systems, allowing patients to turn on and off lights, change TV and radio channels or increase audio volume all in one easy-to-use system. The system has a number of call point options including waterproof options for areas with high moisture levels, such as en suites. The bedside call point can also be used for additional sensors including enuresis, bed leaving and epilepsy sensors. This allows Nursing Homes and hospitals great flexibility in scaling up or down the

service to best cater for patients needs and allowing staff to work more productively. SHELTERED AND GROUP HOUSING Tunstall Emergency Response has a long standing expertise in designing and installing systems to support independent living in sheltered home settings. Its latest service for this sector is the Communicall Vi. This call system sees a ‘speech module’ placed in each apartment or house which allows the resident to have a two way conversation with staff or Tunstall Emergency Response’s expert 24 hour monitoring centre. Communicall Vi can be set up so that calls can be taken by staff during working hours and diverted to the monitoring centre outside of this, so assistance is always available and immediate response in emergencies. Additions to Communicall Vi include personal alarm pendants, automatic fall sensors, smoke detectors, epilepsy sensors and more, helping people live as independently as possible The Communicall Vi has many other great features to support independent living, including: ■

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integrated door entry, allowing residents to control access to apartment block or residence inactivity monitoring, alerting staff if resident is not moving about as normal an ‘I’m ok’ function which allows residents to communicate with staff that all is well without intrusive calls The system can also be accompanied by tablet based software which allows staff to see the status of each resident at a glance and review previous activity to see if new programming changes are required.

THE NEW ‘FREEDOM WATCH’ Tunstall Emergency Response is committed to developing and providing new technology to improve and enhance people’s lives. The company is bringing to market its new ‘Freedom Watch’. This GPS enabled watch is used to locate wearers using mapping technology and is creating much interest from carers of people with Alzheimers, autism and those with a tendency to wander. The Freedom Watch, worn easily on the wrist, can detect a wandering event immediately. Nursing home staff or carers can set a distance from the system’s portable base unit and an alert is created if a person wanders outside of this area. Day or night carers can rest easy in the knowledge that they will be alerted the moment the watch wearer moves out of the safe zone they have set. The portable base is about the size of a smart phone. It’s easy to carry and means carers can use this system when out and about, in addition to in the home or residential care setting. Tunstall Emergency Response is also soon to launch its new range of products which will see the placement of various sensors throughout an individual’s home. These smart sensors learn the normal routines and patterns of the resident over a period of time and alert the company’s monitoring centre with any unusual activity, such as in the case of a fall, or the resident doesn’t get up within the usual time-frame. Once an alert has been made Tunstall Emergency Response’s monitoring team will then contact the resident, notifying relevant medical professionals in the case of emergencies. Whatever the situation Tunstall Emergency Response has the technology

to provide care and access to reassurance or immediate medical help for the older person, and peace of mind and up to date information to nursing staff and carers.

Tunstall Emergency Response Irish company, Tunstall Emergency Response, provides expert telecare solutions to over 36,000 Irish customers and their families across the country. Tunstall Emergency Response’s telehealthcare services provide the remote monitoring of a person’s health and wellbeing, including instant response to emergencies. Its services are also there for reassurance and peace-of-mind. With help easily accessible at the touch of a button, services include detectors for falls, smoke, floods and carbon monoxide as well as sensors for bed/chair occupancy, epilepsy, property exit and temperature extremes. Its services include the 24 hour monitoring of people’s health and wellbeing in nursing homes as well as supporting independent living for older people in their own homes. For more information on Tunstall Emergency Response visit www.emergencyresponse. ie or phone 1850 247 999

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Consider ideal attributes as excellent care awaits A new phase of your life begins with a move to a nursing home. You have the right to choose where to live and you should consider carefully what it is you want from your new home

Y Art: Arts & crafts are frequent activities in nursing homes. Tess Draper enjoys a painting session at Padre Pio Rest Home, Co Waterford

Music: Homes host live music to entertain residents and visitors. The O’Keefe Brothers entertain with traditional music at Padre Pio Rest Home, Co Waterford

our move to the nursing home will ensure you are provided with the specialist care and support suited to your day-today living requirements. Meeting your care requirements will be a dedicated, committed and caring team. They will implement a care plan designed around health and general needs. Excellent levels of care are provided in nursing homes but it is important to give careful consideration to what home will best suit your health and social care needs. You have the right to choose where you wish to live. Resident choice is enshrined in the legislation governing the Nursing Home Support Scheme, commonly known as Fair Deal, and you choose the nursing home best suited to your and your relatives needs whether public, private or voluntary. Fair Deal is the State support mechanism that has been designed to make nursing home care affordable. Once an applicant is approved under the scheme, it’s their choice as to what home they choose and where they want to live. Nursing Homes are community environments that create a ‘home from home’ for the residents living within them. Residents meet new friends and share life stories and interests within a homely setting, while expert staff provide dedicated care and form friendships with those in their care. Ideal Attributes Before even beginning to examine the range of nursing homes available to you, make a list of the ideal attributes you want from the nursing home. If you are assisting someone about to move into a nursing home, involve them in making the decision as much as possible. If they are not in a position to communicate well, it

The Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) The Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a scheme of financial support for people who need long-term nursing home care. Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme you will make a contribution towards the cost of your care and the State will pay the balance. This applies whether the nursing home is public, private or voluntary. Step 1 is an application for a Care Needs Assessment. The Care Needs Assessment identifies whether or not you need long-term nursing home care. Step 2 is an application for State Support. This will be used to complete the Financial Assessment which determines your contribution to your care and your corresponding level of financial assistance (“State Support”). Steps 1 and 2 must be completed by all applicants (if you were resident in

a nursing home before the scheme started please see section 10 of the information booklet). Step 3 is an optional step which should be completed if you wish to apply for the Nursing Home Loan (this is termed “Ancillary State Support” in the legislation). Your Contribution to Care The scheme is administered by the HSE. Having looked at your income and assets, the Financial Assessment will work out your contribution to care. You will contribute 80% of your assessable income and 7.5% of the value of any assets per annum. However, the first €36,000 of your assets, or €72,000 for a couple, will not be counted at all in the financial assessment. Where your assets include

land and property in the State, the 7.5% contribution based on such assets may be deferred and collected from your estate. This is an optional Nursing Home Loan element of the scheme which is legally referred to as “Ancillary State Support”. To learn more about the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) and your eligibility contact:  HSE on the HSE infoline on 1850 24 1850, or refer to their website for your local NHSS office (a listing is provided on the HSE website).  The Department of Health has a section on their website dedicated to the Fair Deal, in particular the FAQ section details the most commonly asked questions and it is a very useful resource. You can visit it at www.dohc.ie/issues.fair_deal/

is extremely important to bear their values and preferences in mind in making this important life decision. The attributes that are worth considering include the atmosphere and religious outlook, the food and recreational activities and any special needs and preferences you or your relative might have. Research Next comes the research phase. The first step of this phase should be quite straightforward - find out about the nursing homes in your area. There is a directory of Nursing Homes Ireland members available on www.nhi.ie From this directory some more detailed research on the quality of care provided and comparisons with your ‘ideal attributes’ should assist you to create your shortlist. At this stage a visit to the nursing home would be recommended. There is no substitute for

Nursing Homes Ireland resources The Nursing Homes Ireland website is an excellent resource for persons considering nursing home care. NHI Members are committed to the highest standards of care. Visit the publications section of the NHI website www.nhi.ie to download:  NHI’s Nursing Home Care it’s your choice…Advice on choosing a Nursing Home & Understanding the Fair Deal,  Quality Living, Quality Care – Living in a Nursing Home Nursing Home Care it’s your choice advice on choosing a Nursing Home & Understanding Fair Deal provides an easy-to-read understanding of the principle means of support for persons requiring nursing home care. It details how the scheme works and:  Applying for the Scheme  The Care Needs Assessment  The types of financial support available under the scheme  Your rights in choosing a nursing home Quality Living, Quality Care – Living in a Nursing Home details the health and social care provided in nursing homes and addresses concerns of persons. It features advice on:  Choosing a nursing home,  Facilities,  Activities,  Food and nutrition,  Complaints procedures,  The Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal). Visit www.nhi.ie to download copies of the publications or contact NHI Head Office at 01 4292570 if you wish to receive a copy of either by post.

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Nursing Homes Ireland: A hallmark of excellent care Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) is the national representative body for the private and voluntary nursing home sector and has over 350 members in communities across Ireland. NHI members are committed to:  Maintaining and enhancing the quality of life of residents  Preserving the autonomy of residents, guaranteeing free expression of opinion and freedom of choice  Maintaining a safe physical and emotional environment  Ensuring that the privacy and dignity of residents is respected  Being an employer of choice and providing continuous professional development and training The Nursing Homes Ireland website can assist you in choosing a nursing home and is an excellent resource with very helpful information. The site will provide you with a full listing of NHI members in your locality. You can visit it at www.nhi.ie. You can also contact NHI with queries about choosing a nursing home and it can be contacted at (01) 4292570.

the information you can gain from actually visiting the home. As nursing homes are busy places and primarily focussed on the care of their residents it is advisable to make an appointment with the nursing home initially. When visiting the nursing home, you should: • Take a formal tour with the Director of Nursing or designated deputy. • Ask questions during your tour. This is your choice and you should be prepared with all of the answers you need to make it. • Look around to get a better picture of the services, activities, and quality of care and life for the residents.

Questions to consider While you are carrying out your research and when you are visiting the home there are some issues worth considering for the wellbeing of yourself or your relative: Is the nursing home close to family and friends so they can visit often? • Is the nursing home close to shops, clubs, church or other events/ places you may wish to continue using? • Are you able to bring in personal possessions/ furniture from home? • Does the nursing home have a regular schedule of activities for you to participate in? • How are residents and families encouraged to participate in developing their care plan?

Intergenerational: Nursing homes are settings that bring young and old together. Seen at Sonas Care Centre, Westmeath, a resident interacts with a child playing.

Tax relief on nursing home fees If you require nursing home care and do not qualify, or do not wish to apply, for financial support under the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) you can claim tax relief for nursing home expenditure under the general scheme for tax relief on certain medical expenses. You can claim tax relief (Med 1 form) on nursing expenditure at your highest rate of tax (either 20% or 41%). If you are paying nursing home fees, you can get the tax relief - whether you are in the nursing home yourself or you are paying for another person receiving nursing home care. Before 2007 this person had to have been a relative or dependent. A long-term resident in a nursing home who pays tax under PAYE can apply to have the expenses allowed in his or her tax credit certificate. For additional information see Revenues information leaflet IT 6 Medical Expenses Relief. The nursing home must be on the Revenue list of approved hospitals and nursing homes, viewable on www.revenue.ie.

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Tommy’s inspiration paints positivity of nursing home life

he story of Tommy Mulvaney, a 69 year-old resident of Millbury Nursing Home, Co Meath, is one of a remarkable inspirational national award winner. In December 2009 Tommy suffered a stroke that left him with severe right sided body weakness and unable to express himself verbally. During his three years living in the nursing home Tommy has shown remarkable resolve, determination and spirit. This has proven an inspiration for staff, visitors and his fellow residents. He has shown remarkable fortitude and taken charge of his disability. Indeed a remarkable unbeknownst talent has emerged during his rehabilitative process. Since he has moved to the home a previously undiscovered and remarkable talent for art has emerged through the support and guidance of the nursing home staff. It has develped to such a remarkable degree over the short period that he has staged an exhibition of his works. Tommy won the 2013 Nursing Homes Ireland Resident Achievement Award. Over 500 people stood at Citywest Hotel to applaud Tommy and his remarkable achievements at the prestigious national awards ceremony on 7th November. This remarkable, inspirational story dates back three years. In 2009 Tommy suffered a severe stroke that left him with right sided body weakness. When Tommy arrived in Millbury he was unable to walk and needed lots of assistance with his everyday routine. Tommy also had great difficulty with communication and found it difficult to express himself. The stroke was traumatic and devastating for a man who had spent over 40 years working as a mechanic and was a keen GAA supporter for O’Mahony’s GAA Club in Navan. He moved to Millbury Nursing Home, Navan, in July 2010. A multidisciplinary team approach was adopted, as nurses, carers, GPs, activity coordinators, physio, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists

focussed upon his care and rehabilitative process. During the early stages of this process he was encouraged by staff to use his motorised chair independently and staff provided assistance with personal care. Occupational therapist Lalith Kumar spent many hours with Tommy encouraging and supporting movement to help him gain a greater degree of mobility. The care he requires and receives is constant, with Millbury Nursing Home adopting a person-centred care approach. At the start of each day Tommy takes part in daily exercise routines which help strengthen his muscles and help his coordination throughout the day. He takes part in the group exercises such as physical games and mental exercises that stimulate and are a lot of fun. “These activities are important as they create a sense of equality and choice for Tommy,” Lucy Flynn-Grillet, Provider of Care at Millbury explains. “Tommy is involved in the Resident Committee meetings which give him a sense of belonging and it also acts as a voice for residents who have communication difficulties similar to Tommy. “Here at Millbury we have a wide range of morning and afternoon activities available to all our residents. Tommy is always eager to take part in these meaningful activities. Tommy gets up early, has his breakfast, gets himself ready and goes out for a spin around our gardens. He does his puzzles every morning and attends the morning activities which include his favourite activity – painting. In the afternoon after lunch he joins in other activities brought together by our activity coordinator. Tommy has easy access to the gardens and to the grounds of the nursing home which allows him a great sense of freedom and autonomy within his new home. He has his own private space in one of the gardens and staff can always see him zooming around getting fresh air which he really enjoys. He also has a real passion, love and knowledge of horse-racing. Tommy’s participation

Tommy’s positivity is an inspiration for fellow residents and others

Tommy is pictured at the NHI Care Awards 2013 with a collection of his paintings and, from left, Dominic Mulvaney, his nephew; Edward Mulvaney, his brother; and Maria Brady, activity co-ordinator Millbury Nursing Home, Navan. in these social and recreational activities allows him to enjoy a better quality of life wherein he maintains his independence.” Over the three years since his move to Millbury, Tommy’s mobility has greatly improved and he has found a new lease of life. Lucy attributes this in part to constant occupational therapy and does not underestimate the encouragement he has received from staff at the home. His rehabilitative process, encompassing immense positivity, has revealed a remarkable, previously undiscovered talent. Tommy has brought together a remarkable portfolio of paintings. “His paintings represent his unique and individual style to the highest level,” Lucy comments. “They are to a remarkably high standard. It is all the more remarkable because Tommy has right side paralysis and has to do all his painting with his left hand, despite being naturally right handed. His talent

has progressed to such a high level that Tommy was able to hold an art exhibition showcasing his work to friends, family, staff and residents last year. The exhibition was a huge success. Lord Mayor of Navan Caoimhe Ní Shluáin officially opened the exhibition that was covered by the local media and widely attended. To quote Oscar Wilde – ‘Art is the most intense mode of individualism the world has ever known’ and Tommy’s paintings represent his unique and individual style to the highest level.” Staff in Millbury take great pride in Tommy’s accomplishments and he has inspired and given hope to many residents, Lucy proudly proclaims. His fellow residents are now partaking in regular art sessions, with a friend of his determined to hold his very own exhibition next year, so competition is rife! “An estimated 30,000 people are living in Ireland with disabilities as a result of a stroke and Tommy’s story signifies that there is still life after a stroke and that it is never too late to take up a new hobby,” adds Lucy. “Of course moving into a Nursing Home is not an easy decision and can be quite worrying for people. Tommy’s story shows how a person who is physically impaired can create a whole new life in the comfort of a safe, secure and caring environment. He took charge of his disability and discovered a new passion which allows him to have a new joy in his life once more. His quality of life has improved through safe access to local activities, creating good social relationships and engaging in as many hobbies as possible. He makes the most of everyday – not letting his disability stand in the way of his living life. Tommy’s mobility improved while he has stayed in Millbury and this has had an immensely positive affect upon his life. Tommy now considers Millbury as his home. Here in Millbury and in our sister nursing home St. Elizabeth’s in Athboy we would like to wish Tommy continued success, good health and the strength to continue to inspire others.” His drive continues. Tommy is now working on a new body of paintings for his next exhibition that will be taking place in 2014.

Sector’s healthcare & jobs potential must be realised

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Nursing Homes Ireland plays a key and influential role within Irish healthcare, representing over 350 private and voluntary nursing homes. The healthcare and jobs potential of this sector must be realised to ensure required additional provision of 10,000 is fulfilled

rivate and voluntary nursing homes are of critical importance to a proper functioning health service that can provide the appropriate community care for our population. Across the country 440 plus private and voluntary nursing homes provide excellent levels of specialist care in dedicated healthcare settings that are ‘homes from home’ for over 21,500 persons. Nursing Homes Ireland is the representative organisation for the private and voluntary nursing home sector. The specialist care our sector provides is independently regulated and inspected by HIQA and it is arguably the most highly regulated sector of the Irish health service. NHI and our members are committed to ensuring persons who call nursing homes “home” are provided with the highest quality care. NHI supports members by providing expert education and advice surrounding care delivery and represents their interests and those of their residents at local and national level. Significant growth is a requirement for nursing home care and this is evident from differing bodies of independent research. The Centre for Ageing and Research Development in Ireland (CARDI) is projecting growth in demand for such care will increase by at least 12,270 by 2021 and it could amount to 14,502. The ESRI has projected 13,324 additional places will be required to 2021. “Private and voluntary nursing homes have the willingness and expertise to meet the significant challenges that will be presented in meeting our ageing population’s care requirements but must this be supported by policy to meet the care requirements of this generation and those succeeding them,” Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO has stated. “A failure to act now will leave Irish society with a crisis in the coming years, as the sector may not have the capacity to meet the significant demands that will be placed upon it.” NHI has advanced to the Government a public private partnership can resolve this critical public policy issue and

is calling for engagement in this respect. NHI’s belief is Ireland can be a world leader in providing care to older persons. Our members work on the front line of long-term care and have heavily invested to provide the most professional care and highest standards. Having invested around €2 billion building capacity and transforming nursing home care, the sector has the appetite to invest a further €1 billion to create an additional 900 to 1,000 sustainable jobs a year for the next ten years and meet the requirement for 10,000 additional nursing home beds. For this to happen though, there needs to be a clearly defined Department of Health coordinated strategy on long-term care. NHI is advancing the requirement for a Department of Healthled ‘Forum on Long-Term Residential Care’ to be established to bring stakeholders together to plan for the significant growth in requirement for nursing home care. We are calling for a ‘Fair Price for Care’ - an evidence-based cost of care funding model that is a requirement to ensure the specialised care needs of those requiring long-term residential care are recognised. Residents in nursing homes have increasingly complex care requirements and a ‘one-size-fits-all’ framework to support their care is not appropriate. Given the large numbers of people inappropriately placed in acute hospitals, it is critical that our sector is enabled to meet the care requirements of an increasing ageing population. The private and voluntary nursing home sector must be provided with a framework and stimulus that will enable it expand to meet the projected demand for long-term residential care of older population. In its National Operational Plan 2013, the HSE is reporting current undersupply of beds in Dublin and other urban centres and projects “significant national deficit of beds by 2016”. A national crisis is emerging. It cannot be ignored. Even with enhanced home and community care, the requirement for the dedicated, specialist care of nursing

NHI members’ commitment to excellent care NHI members are committed to:  Maintaining and enhancing the quality of life of residents.  Preserving the autonomy of residents, guaranteeing free expression of opinion and freedom of choice.  Maintaining a safe physical and emotional environment.  Ensuring that the privacy and dignity of residents is respected.  Being an employer of choice and providing continuous professional development and training. The organisation is committed to providing leadership, supporting members and promoting excellence by:  Working in partnership with our members and other stakeholders to achieve best practice in the care of the older person in all nursing homes.  Ensuring that providers have a voice in the strategic direction and development of future nursing homes services.  Achieving adequate and fair funding for nursing homes to enable them to provide high quality care for all.  Working in partnership to ensure that regulation is effective, proportionate and transparent.

Dance: Jane Bagnall, Care Assistant at Craddock House nursing home, Naas, Co Kildare, waltzing in the summer sun with resident Lily Kirwan homes will grow substantially with our aging population. Sustainable jobs within the sector can be created in both urban and rural communities across the country. The Department of Health and wider Government must urgently engage with

our sector on this immediate challenge. Visit www.nhi.ie for further information about Nursing Homes Ireland or contact (01) 4292570. Follow NHI on Twitter @NursingHomesIre

The private & voluntary nursing home sector The critical role private and voluntary nursing home play in meeting the care requirements of Ireland’s older population are underlined by the following:  There are 440+ private and voluntary nursing homes in communities across Ireland.  Our homes are providing a ‘home from home’ and care for nearly 21,500 residents.  Private and voluntary nursing homes account for more than 75% of all long term care beds in the country.  More than 22,000 staff are employed in our homes to provide care to the persons in their care.  In 2012 78% of new persons supported by the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) chose private and voluntary nursing homes.

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Secretary General Addresses NHI Conference

The Department of Health is favourably disposed to bringing key stakeholders in the provision of long-term residential care around the table to plan for the requirement for such care, Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, Secretary General of the Department of Health has stated. The decision to establish a forum as requested by the NHI will ultimately be a political one, he said.

r McLoughlin was speaking at the Nursing Homes Ireland Annual Conference, Shaping the Future of Nursing Home Care, on 7thNovember at Citywest Hotel. He delivered the opening address and participated in a question and answers session with the conference chair, broadcaster and historian John Bowman. Over 400 representatives of the nursing home and health sectors attended the conference. During the question and answer session, Mr Bowman referenced NHI’s longstanding call for the Department of Health to bring key stakeholders in the provision of long-term residential care together through the establishment of a ‘Forum on Long-Term Residential Care’. Mr Bowman asked “why there is not a more formalised relationship between this sector [private and voluntary nursing homes] as one of the key stakeholders in a forum to help develop public policy”. “I certainly will give very close scrutiny to the request of NHI and I have had discussions at political level,” Dr McLoughlin responded. “This is essentially a political decision. There are complexities in this because of issues around competition law, EU law and how we handle these; we have to be very careful and do have a huge challenge in this area.” He added: “Now we mightn’t call it a ‘forum’ but I think you

can take it Minister [for Older Persons] Lynch will be disposed to putting an entity in place; it is ultimately her decision and a matter for her. It will be grounded on the basis of cooperation and collaboration.” In respect of the review of the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal), Dr McLoughlin said “it is very important we get this review right”, adding, “it’s going to be the basis on which we will plan significant investment decisions”. “Do you accept that the people here at today’s conference in this sector cannot be expected to be making investment decisions if they do not have certainty about the policy in the middle term,” Mr Bowman asked. “I accept that and the problem that we face as a Department is that until we stabilise the situation in respect of the health budget and our colleagues across Government do the same it is very difficult for us to be certain about the numbers and the monies that will be available,” Dr McLoughlin replied. “But you can take it that we are in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and we do hope to see a stimulus package approved by Government in the near future and I’m conscious of the fact that there needs to be some commitments made by Government in the medium and long-term in terms of funding long-term care. I would say there won’t be a decision on this until early in the new year but there will

Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin be a decision probably early to mid-2014.” The Secretary General said the Department is “working closely” with the HSE to develop an overall plan regarding future public provision of long-term residential care. “The plan will reflect both national and regional requirements and will have regard to the current severe financial constraints, restrictions on public sector staffing and recruitment and the ongoing need to meet service and safety standards, all of which pose challenges for community nursing

units across the country,” he added. He encouraged delegates to look to emerging technologies to support them in care provision and said there’s great opportunity for small and medium industry in Ireland to partner with the nursing home and health sectors. Questioned in respect of key issues facing the sector, Dr McLoughlin encouraged private and voluntary nursing home operators to look at how they can extend their services by utilising their expertise in home settings.

Nursing Homes Ireland Annual Conference hears of ‘ticking timebomb’

One of the country’s leading business healthcare consultants has warned that there is a ticking ‘timebomb’ for the State regarding care requirements for older people. A critical shortfall of long-term residential beds is now imminent, he has warned.

erry Gray, Managing Partner at BDO, issued the warning at the Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Annual Conference, Shaping the Future of Nursing Home Care, at Citywest Hotel, 7th November. He warned the 400 delegates from the nursing home and health sectors 4,200 new nursing home beds are required to meet our ageing population’s residential care requirements by 2016. However, these will not come on stream because of the continued absence of a realistic national strategy on care for older people. He said this equates to a requirement of around 53 new nursing homes by 2016. BDO has been engaged by NHI to conduct independent research to inform public policy in respect of the provision and funding of long-term residential care in Ireland. His presentation was titled Towards a Future Strategy for Residential Care Requirements for Ireland’s Ageing Population. Uncertainty in the sector due to the absence of a detailed State strategy for healthcare for older persons and their long-term residential care is a major barrier to creating the appropriate environment to increase long-term residential bed capacity within the private sector, he warned.

A huge shortfall of State capital and a requirement for hefty investment in existing public units to bring them into compliance with national standards means it is highly unlikely that the State will be able to make any meaningful contribution in terms of additional new long-term residential bed capacity, delegates were told. Mr Gray quoted a HSE costing that to maintain its provision of 20% capacity of long-term residential care an investment of €1.7 billion is required. Such a sizeable investment will not, in any way, offer a real solution to address the serious short-falls in capacity identified by BDO in their research, he stated. In reality, it will fall on the private sector to meet the substantial additional requirement for nursing home beds, delegates were told. However the speed and rate at which new beds can be provided is being significantly curtailed as a result of funding uncertainty, and the absence of a clear and defined plan for the sector. BDO have identified in their research a very notable decrease in the number of new private nursing homes that have been developed over the last three years. Just over 100 additional beds – 339 – have been added to the sector in that period. “Unless addressed, this will lead to real

worries and uncertainty for older people and their families,” Mr Gray warned. “Older persons are facing the prospect of not having long-term residential care available to meet their care requirements. This will have very serious consequences for the acute hospital sector.” Throughout his presentation, Mr Gray referenced data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicating the scale of the challenge. The conference heard that the number of older people over 85 years of age is going to rapidly increase by 46 per cent over the period to 2021 to over 85,000 people. This will increase to 135,000 people over 85 years by 2031. There will also be significant increases across all age cohorts over 65 throughout that time period, including a 47 per cent increase in those between the ages of 70 - 74. The lack of care infrastructure to deal with an increase of this size was highlighted in the presentation. Some form of State support for capital investment or a capital fund programme will have to be put in place if the issue of undercapacity is to be addressed, Mr Gray said. “A national strategy which sets out how our elderly population is to be cared for; how we can realistically care for greater numbers

of our older population in the community and that sets out the role for each party within aged care provision must now be developed as a matter of priority,” he said. Also, speaking at the Annual Conference, Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said that the sector wants to invest to meet this demand but it is an imperative that there is more certainty around Government policy for the area. “There are many crises that can’t be avoided but this one can. We have a great opportunity to plan now and put the infrastructure and care services in place that we know will be capable of meeting the future care requirements of our ageing population. This sector stands ready to invest up to €1 billion to create 1000 long-term jobs a year for the next ten years. Such investment will bring significant healthcare and employment benefits to every county and stimulate rural and urban communities.” “However, without a clear co-ordinated strategy on long term care, there can be no case made or business confidence in this scale of investment. NHI calls for a Department of Health-led Expert Group on Long Term Residential Care to be established with all the relevant players represented.”

Celebrating Excellence in Care

A new horizon that’s bringing happiness What do we know of life in a nursing home? Residents of nursing homes in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Tipperary and Wexford spoke of their experiences of nursing home life “With the realisation that my mobility was failing and was having far reaching consequences for my lifestyle and my ability to go on living at home, my life seemed to be a fog of uncertainty. “On arrival at what I saw to be the end of the road for me, I found in Deerpark House a great sense of peace, a sense that the journey may not be over but just beginning. The staff were very warm and friendly and put me at ease straight away. “The activities area was where I really found my feet. I was able to assist with storytelling, creative writing, sing-alongs and poetry mornings where I met like-minded people. “Deerpark House is now my home, where I feel safe, understood, valued, useful and cared for.” Bill O’Donnell, Deerpark House Nursing Home, Bantry, Co Cork “I am very happy in my everyday life at TLC Citywest. When I came here following a broken hip I was in shock, but I settled in very quickly. I have everything I need here; it’s like ‘home from home. “I live life to the full here and enjoy the external trips. I can go out to visit my family and often stay with them for a few days. I still have my independence and this is encouraged by the staff in TLC Citywest. I’ve made great friends since I came here. I have a great social life and enjoy every minute of it,” Aileen Larkin, TLC Citywest, Co Dublin “After a fall at home and a short stay in hospital, I decided that it was time to move into our local nursing home in Spiddal, Galway. I lived alone and was becoming increasingly worried about being on my own. Being from the Gaeltacht, Irish is my native language and I knew that this would be facilitated in the nursing home.

“From day one everybody has been so friendly and helpful and have made me feel very welcome. I can get up when I like, do whatever I like to do, eat what I like and go to bed when I like. We’re treated like royalty! Our opinion and input is valued. “I feel very safe and well cared for and know that should I wish for anything, I need only ask.” Jude P Conneely, Aras Chois Fharraige, Spiddal, Co Galway “In June 2010 when in the course of our regular short morning telephone call my mother said it was time for her to go somewhere I knew where she meant. Mam knew Roseville from visiting there, and had picked it some years before this day came. Mam enjoys her room, spotting the birds and sometimes rabbits outside her window. “Mam enjoys good physical health and we know that she participates in a range of group activities, including baking, knitting and gardening. She is very happy here and feels safe.” Tony Griffin writes of the care provided to his mother Mary at Roseville House Nursing Home, Ballysimon, Limerick “After my treatment in hospital, my family suggested a nursing home stay in order to help with the rehabilitation after my accident. I knew that receiving this care was necessary because of my injuries. The fact that the staff were so kind, caring, reliable and helpful made it all the more easier for me. “My family are always made feel very welcome and visit often which is brilliant. I receive one-to-one physiotherapy once a day from the in-house physiotherapist. All this effort has paid off as I won the Monthly Resident Health Initiative Award for October for my progress in improving

my walking. My family were there to congratulate me too! The nursing home has encouraged me to continue to want to improve my walking which has had a significant impact on improving my quality of life.” Alan Nyst, Beechlodge Care Facility, Bruree, Co. Limerick “I have been living in Sunhill Nursing Home for over 18 months now and I absolutely love it. At first when I arrived I was very nervous. I thought that this was it and my life was now over but I soon realised that this is definitely not the case. Since coming to Sunhill, I have begun a new chapter in my life and it certainly has been an exciting one so far. “I have met some fantastic people who have all become my friends, including the staff who are all lovely people.” May Sherlock, Sunhill Nursing Home, Termonfeckin, Co Louth “I came to St Attracta’s a few months ago. I wasn’t worried about coming; worries never even crossed my mind as I knew I needed to be looked after. The staff really are the most wonderful people. They are always friendly and have helped me to settle in and so have the other residents. I have made friends very quickly and I feel safe and comfortable because I know there are people around me 24 hours a day to help.” Josie Walsh, St Attracta’s Nursing Home, Charlestown, Co Mayo “St Martha’s Nursing Home is ideally situated in the Glen of Aherlow with beautiful scenic views from our dining room window. The staff here are very nice and work diligently to see that all residents are well looked after and happy. The home is beautiful. It has a spacious dining room which looks out onto a well-cared-for garden.

Deerpark House is now my home, where I feel safe, understood, valued, useful and cared for. “The sitting room has lovely seated accommodation. I can sit here and chat with friends I have made since coming here. We are spoilt with outings. Recently we went to Bunratty Castle and Cobh Heritage Centre and Cobh Cathedral.” Mairead Hyland, St Martha’s Nursing Home, Cahir, Co Tipperary “I moved into Millhouse Care Centre in September 2013.When I made the decision to move to long-term care I felt a great sense relief as it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to manage at home, despite having a very supportive family. The staff in Millhouse immediately made me feel at home. I am able to determine my own goals and communicate my needs to nursing and care staff. “I honestly could not be happier with my experience of Millhouse so far. I am facilitated by all members of staff to be independent with smaller tasks and this means so much to me. My family are thrilled with the level of care I receive. It feels like home as it is a place I feel secure, contented and well cared for.” Ellen (Nelly) Flynn, Millhouse Care Centre, New Ross, Wexford

Pictured above are, from left Mary Griffin, Josie Walsh, Bill O’Donnell, Aileen Larkin. Pictured below are, Jude P. Connelly, Mairead Hyland, May Sherlock, Alan Nyst, Ellen ‘Nelly’ Flynn

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Nursing Homes: Valuable employment in communities across Ireland

The private and voluntary nursing home sector has the potential to create up to 1,000 jobs per annum over the over the next ten years and meet the significant growth in requirement for nursing home care.

ursing Homes Ireland (NHI), the representative organisation for the sector, has written to the Government putting forward the case for a government strategy and clear public policy that offers the potential to create jobs that will meet the growth in requirement for 10,000 long term care places. NHI is advancing with a clearly defined and Department of Health co-ordinated strategy for the sector, the numbers employed within it can expand at a rate of 900 new jobs per annum or 10,000 additional new jobs over the next ten years. Research by national and international bodies project approximately 1,000 additional long-term care places will be required to meet our ageing population’s growth in requirement for such care up to the year 2021. The ESRI forecasts the need for an additional 13,000 plus long-term residential care places to meet demand for 2021. The CARDI (Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland)

report ‘Future demand for long-term care in Ireland’ projects the number of persons requiring nursing home care will increase by at least 12,270 by 2021 and warns “Even with greater emphasis on care at home and more resources provided to realise it, the demand for residential care is going to increase significantly in the next decade.” Private and voluntary nursing homes provide direct employment to 22,000 people across the country and support approximately 44,000 jobs through direct and indirect employment. They are key employers within urban and rural communities, acting as economic dynamos within such settings. In many instances the private and voluntary nursing home is the largest employer within the community, playing a key role in supporting local goods and services providers. 75 per cent of all long-term care beds in the country are provided by the sector. The sector is of critical importance to our national and local economies. The 22,000 people directly employed by the private and voluntary

Family: Relatives of residents of Maypark House Nursing Home, Co Waterford, participating in a sports day that was enjoyed by residents, staff and visitors alike

Skills training & autonomy: nursing opportunities With large numbers of nurses continuing to leave the health service and opportunities within it for graduates extremely limited, NHI is encouraging nurses to look to the nursing home sector for rewarding employment. Staff nurses, clinical nurse managers, directors of nursing are offered excellent employment opportunities in the sector. Nursing homes are stimulating environments to work in. Nurses in nursing homes may be required to deal with:  Blood and blood product transfusions  Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnoea  Subcutaneous fluids  Intravenous antibiotics  Infusion pumps  Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tubes  Catherisation

Staff within nursing homes are continually improving their skills and expanding their roles to meet emerging demands like nurse prescribing, male catheterisation, venepuncture and cannulation. Nursing homes regard staff training and continuous professional development as a priority, and are required to do so by regulation. Career progression is often faster than other healthcare settings due to the specialist nature of the work involved and the availability of senior positions in the industry. The current legislation for the position of person in charge (Director of Nursing) permits staff with three years’ experience in care of the older person to hold this post. “Working with older people is demanding, but it is also very rewarding” says Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO. “You are

involved not just in health, but also care. It’s not just about getting people well, it’s about engaging with them on quality of life issues and getting to know them. In an acute setting, you might be working with a person for a week or two weeks or even a month, whereas in a long-term care setting you’re nursing and engaging and looking after this individual for sometimes two or three years, so you get to know them. The experience and high skill levels of those leaving our public health service can continue to play a crucial role in Irish healthcare through dedicated, specialised care in nursing homes. For nursing graduates, our sector offers unrivalled opportunity to expand your knowledge and clinical skills on a daily basis and offer excellent career progression prospects within dedicated healthcare settings.”

“The impact of an ageing population globally has a knock-on effect on nursing, resulting in increasing numbers working with older people,” Professor Brendan McCormack, President of the All Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association states. “Gerontological nursing is a speciality in its own right. To be a specialist in gerontological nursing requires the advancement of sets of knowledge, skills, competencies and expertise that are particular to meeting the complex health and social care needs of older people.” Exploring Nursing Expertise in Residential Care for Older People in Ireland is NHI partnered research that articulates the precise experience of registered nurses in residential settings and can be downloaded at www.nhi.ie.

Celebrating Excellence in Care nursing home sector contribute over €170 million to the exchequer on an annual basis through direct taxation paid. The sector grew rapidly between 2003 and 2009 to meet demand – from 14,946 beds to 20,590 – but this growth has slowed significantly in the past three years. The current number of beds in the sector stands at 21,607. The jobs offered by private and voluntary nursing homes are wide-ranging, diverse, fulfilling and rewarding. The nursing home is a community within itself, bringing together nurses, carers, caterers, activity coordinators, admin staff and ancillary workers. These healthcare settings engage local healthcare professionals including GPs, therapists, dieticians and physiotherapists. “There’s a whole mix of staff in a nursing home environment,” states Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO. “Engaging with residents every day leads to long-standing relationships that provide immense job satisfaction. For many people it means working in their own local community because nursing homes are based, literally, in communities. In nursing homes you are trying to look after health and social care needs so it offers a very holistic range of services from social activities right through to physiotherapy and occupational therapy.” In August, a Nursing Homes Ireland survey of 103 members across the country revealed 256 vacancies were available to be filled in the sector. “The 256 jobs which are currently available only represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to job creation potential in the private and voluntary nursing homes sector,” Mr Daly stated. “The private and voluntary nursing homes sector represents an extremely positive employment creation

opportunity for the State, but there needs to be more engagement from Government to secure this.” NHI is calling for the establishment of a Department of Health led ‘Forum on Long Term Residential Care’, whereby the significant challenges facing the provision of such care will be addressed – including

a required framework to support the significant growth in requirement for nursing home care and create required jobs to support such care. “There are many crises that can’t be avoided but this one can,” Mr Daly states. “We have a great opportunity to plan now and put the infrastructure and care services

Terry Tiernan, Head Chef, Ashford House Nursing Home, Co Dublin “My role involves planning and

in place that we know will be capable of meeting the future care requirements of our ageing population. This sector stands ready to invest up to €1 billion to create 1,000 longterm jobs a year for the next ten years. Such investment will bring significant healthcare and employment benefits to every county and stimulate rural and urban communities.”

Puzzles: Nursing homes have plenty games & activities to entertain & stimulate. Bridget Costello and Mary Fitzgibbons, residents of Sonas Care Centre, Westmeath, enjoying activity with Edyta Starwaska, healthcare assistant

Immense satisfaction is derived from working in a nursing home. People working within these dedicated healthcare settings develop long-standing friendships through care provision and derive immense satisfaction from improving the health and wellbeing of persons in their care, bringing happiness to their lives. Caring with Excellence and Enriching Lives spoke with differing staff in NHI member homes to discuss what their job entails and the satisfaction they derive from their roles. Mary Burke, Director of Care, Killure Bridge Nursing Home, Waterford “My role as Director of Care is to ensure a high standard of quality care is provided to all Residents in the Nursing Home. I visit every resident every day and find out if they have any issues or anything we can do to improve the care they receive. My day can be filled with GP visits or liaising with other members of a wide-ranging multidisciplinary team. Residents of the nursing home thank us every day for looking after them and tell us they would be lost without us. The fact that we can have such a positive influence on older person’s life is what makes our day worthwhile. I would encourage new graduates to consider working in the nursing home sector as it is very progressive. We have a very young vibrant enthusiastic staff. You will gain huge experience from working in nursing homes. When you see residents singing along and tapping their feet to the music in the day room, drawing a picture at the art class or reminiscing about old times it makes you feel really good about your job. Nursing home staff facilitate enjoyment and fulfillment for residents.”

preparing daily meals and snacks for our residents that ensure their nutritional and dietary needs are met. I take great pride in preparing good nutritional food that is appetising and well presented. Every day after lunch I chat with each of our residents and ask them if they enjoyed their meal and see if they have any suggestions or requests for any particular favourite foods. I feel very honoured that I am working in the residents’ home and I try at all times to make things as relaxed and home-like as possible. Working in Ashford House is a privilege and a pleasure and I would encourage others to consider a career in the nursing home sector as is it both stimulating and rewarding, with constant opportunities for further education and development.” Michelle Curtin, Registered General Nurse, Oaklodge Nursing Home, Co Cork “Since fulfilling employment in the nursing home sector, I have been granted numerous opportunities to grow and expand my knowledge and clinical skills. I can honestly say that I have experienced many situations that I would not have experienced in an acute setting, and I feel my skills are developing each day. While I was concerned that I was going to suffer from losing skills prior to taking up employment within the

sector, nothing could be further from realty as I am constantly acquiring new skills and competencies. I work in a dementia specific unit and no day is the same due to the challenging behaviour of the work environment. I enjoy building lasting relationships with residents and their families to ensure the highest quality of care is given. I take pride in the fact that I improve people’s functional and mental status; improve their living environments and quality of life. I am happy to be part of a team that all work in unison to achieve a common goal that is part of the Oaklodge mission statement – “adding life to years and years to life’’. Mary Foley, Housekeeper, Ocean View Nursing Home, Co Kerry “I have worked as a Housekeeper in Ocean View Nursing Home for the past six years. I work alongside a dedicated team of staff who help me create an environment that is clean, safe and comfortable for the residents. As a housekeeper, the benefit to me is taking pride in helping the residents and their families/friends feel at home knowing that their surroundings are clean and safe. I enjoy the relationships you can develop with the residents and with their families. I take pride in creating a homely and happy environment for the residents, families/friends and staff. I like to make “it feel like home.”

Find out about the role of the nurse in nursing home Rewarding Career Opportunities for Nurses – Working in a Nursing Home is an NHI booklet that informs of nursing employment. It discusses the challenging and rewarding career opportunities nursing homes offer nurses and provides information on skills requirements, work involved, career opportunities, pay, nursing care within nursing homes, the nursing home environment, and confronts the myths associated with such employment. You can download a copy by visiting the publication section of www.nhi.ie or you can order a copy by contacting NHI at (01) 4292570.

Celebrating Excellence in Care

NHI Care Awards 2013 Sponsors

“Homecare Medical Supplies were once again delighted to be title sponsors of the NHI Care Awards and offer our sincere congratulations to the category winners and indeed all the finalists. Homecare want to take this opportunity to congratulate Nursing Homes Ireland for organising a superb evening which was greatly enjoyed.”

“Aon had a fantastic evening as sponsor of the Nursing Home Social & Recreational Award 2013. We are delighted to sponsor an award that recognises the commitment and dedication of the individuals involved in the daily running of these nursing homes. We would like to congratulate Karen Brett of Glenaulin Nursing Home, Sandra Crowe of Rockshire Care Centre and Gerard Ryan of Sacred Heart Nursing Home, along with all the finalists involved in this year’s NHI Care Awards,” Dermot Rutherford, Director

“Abbey Healthcare are delighted to support the Nursing Home Ireland Care Awards. This year’s very memorable awards evening once again highlighted the excellent care being provided in nursing homes across Ireland and the superb dedication of each team member working within these settings. We congratulate the winner of each NHI Care Award category, by recognising their outstanding commitment in providing excellence in care to their residents 365 days of the year.”

“BDO are delighted to be associated with the Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards. The awards night demonstrates tangibly the superb care standards being achieved throughout the year. The awards night, for all those who are nominated, is an acknowledgement of their efforts at making the living standards of those they care for better. BDO, as advisors to the nursing home sector, are proud to be associated with excellence in older persons care and we congratulate all the nominees and winners,”

Bank of Ireland is proud to be associated with the NHI Care Awards 2013 once again. Our experienced team is dedicated to meeting the financials needs of nursing home owners and operators in the healthcare sector. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate, in particular, the winners of the Nursing Home Community Initiative award – the Activities team of TLC Cara Care Centre, Northwood Park, Santry – truly deserving of the Award.”

“Cpl Healthcare were delighted again to be associated with the NHI Care Awards in 2013 as an Award sponsor – an extremely well organised event and a great time was had by all – attendees, nominees and winners. It certainly was an emotional evening and a great representation of the fantastic work being done every day within this specialised field of care. Cpl Healthcare’s commitment to NHI and the aged care field has been ongoing for over eight years and we are looking forward to another busy year ahead. Well done NHI and congratulations again to all of the well-deserved winners, especially the winner of the Cpl Healthcare sponsored Resident Achievement Award, Thomas Mulvaney.”

“Euron are fully committed to the NHI awards and have now been heavily involved for a number of years. As well as sponsoring a category award, Euron also exhibit at the annual conference in partnership with Homecare Medical Supplies and find this to be an extremely useful networking opportunity. Our involvement with Nursing Homes Sector centres on providing on-going education and support in line with HIQA guidelines and sponsoring staff for conferences. We are delighted to be involved in such a prestigious event and are always honoured to meet award nominees, especially nursing home clients,” Jacinta McCamley, Product Specialist Team Leader, Euron

“Fresenius Kabi is delighted to sponsor the Nursing Homes Ireland Awards. Our team works closely with nursing homes nationwide to help staff to deliver patient-centred care to residents. It is important to recognise the professionalism and dedication of staff whose focus on patient-centred care enables residents to live happy fulfilling lives. Nursing homes are critical in meeting our populations’ healthcare needs. The staff’s excellent work provides homely, caring environments for all residents. We continue to work in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland to delivered tailored nutritional care to nursing home residents. We are delighted to be involved with such prestigious awards,” Gerry O’ Connor, General Manager

“As the sole nominated procurement partner for Nursing Homes Ireland, we were delighted to have been part of the NHI Care Awards . On the day over 1,000 people with an interest in and a commitment to matters relating to older people were in attendance . During the awards ceremony the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by the members and their teams was both inspiring and clearly visible for all to see. This was our first year working as a partner to NHI and we are looking forward to developing this partnership even more throughout 2014 .”

Celebrating Excellence in Care

NHI CARE AWARDS 2013 Celebrating Excellence in Care

he 4th Annual Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards took place in Citywest Hotel, Co Dublin, on 7th November. Over 500 people attended the prestigious awards ceremony that

recognised dedication and outstanding care of nursing home personnel from across the country. Nursing homes were also recognised for their role within the community and innovations in dementia

care. The Resident Achievement Award recognised those at the centre of nursing home life: the resident. Thomas Mulvaney of Millbury Nursing Home, Co Meath, was the proud recipient of the 2013 honour.

Nursing Home Director of Nursing/Person in Charge Award Sponsored by Homecare Medical Supplies WINNER Sinead Beirne of Annabeg Nursing Home, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Director of Nursing/Person in Charge Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Sheilah Climaco Ashborough Lodge, Milltown, Co. Kerry Valerie Joy Lisheen Nursing Home, Rathcoole, Dublin 24

Nursing Home Registered Nurse of the Year Award Sponsored by First Choice Purchasing WINNER Mairead McGuinness of St. Peters Nursing Home (Trinity Care), Castlebellingham, Co. Louth is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Registered Nurse of the Year Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Siby Joseph Ashford House Nursing Home, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Kiri Mulqueen Beechlodge Care Facility, Bruree, Co. Limerick

Nursing Home Carer of the Year Award Sponsored by Abbey Healthcare WINNER Chrissy Barron of Moorehall Lodge Ardee, Ardee, Co. Louth, is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Carer of the Year Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Agnese Liepina Orwell House Nursing Home, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Hannah Mullen TLC Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Nursing Home Social & Recreational Programme Award Sponsored by Aon WINNER Karen Brett of Glenaulin Nursing Home, Chapelizod, Dublin 20, is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Social & Recreational Programme Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Sandra Crowe Rockshire Care Centre, Ferrybank, Waterford Gerard Ryan Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Johnstown, Kilkenny

NURSING HOMES IRELAND CARE AWARDS

2013 www.nhicareawards.ie

Celebrating Excellence in Care

Nursing Home Catering and Nutrition Award Sponsored by Fresenius Kabi WINNER Karen Lordan of Haven Bay Care Centre, Kinsale, Co. Cork is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Catering & Nutrition Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Ingrid Bula Innis Ree Lodge Nursing Home, Lanesboro, Co. Roscommon Kevin Cahill Glenaulin Nursing Home, Chapelizod, Dublin 20

Nursing Home Ancillary Worker Award Sponsored by Euron WINNER Marie McGahey of Powdermill Nursing Home & Care Centre, Ballincollig, Cork, is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Ancillary Work Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Jozefa Dulanska Bishopscourt Residential Care Ltd, Waterfall, Co. Cork Antoinette Kane Suncroft Lodge Nursing Home (Trinity Care), The Curragh, Co. Kildare

Nursing Home Community Initiative Award Sponsored by Bank of Ireland WINNER Pictured from second left are Niall Rooney, Jordanna Baker, Orla Treanor and Aurelija Kupryte of TLC Care Care Centre, Santry, Dublin 9, receiving the Nursing Home Community Initiative Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Activities Team, Beneavin House, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Deirdre Mullins Haven Bay Care Centre, Kinsale, Co. Cork

Nursing Home Innovations in Dementia Care Award Sponsored by BDO WINNER Natasha Bloore of Moorehall Lodge Ardee, Ardee, Co. Louth, is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Innovations in Dementia Care Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

FINALISTS Liam Deeney Brentwood Manor, Letterkenny Road, Convoy, Co. Donegal Clare Healy Kiltipper Woods Care Centre, Kiltipper Road, Dublin 24

Nursing Home Resident Achievement Award 2013 Sponsored by CPL Healthcare

NURSING HOMES IRELAND CARE AWARDS

2013 www.nhicareawards.ie

WINNER Thomas Mulvaney of Millbury Nursing Home, Navan, Co. Meath, is pictured receiving the Nursing Home Resident Achievement Award from Professor Brendan McCormack, Chair of the NHI Care Awards judging panel (left), and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

NHI Care Awards Judging Panel 2013 The Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards 2013 judging process was overseen by an independent judging panel. Thank you to the panel for their diligence and time in assessing nominations from across the country.

Chairman of Judging Panel

Prof Brendan McCormack, Nursing Research & Practice Development, University of Ulster Mr Rodd Bond, Director, The Netwell Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology Ms Margot Brennan, Former PRO, Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute Mr Hugh Mills, Chief Executive, Independent Health & Care Providers (IHCP) Mr Eamon Timmins, Head of Advocacy & Communications, Age Action Ireland Ms Linda Kearns, Deputy Director of Nursing, Our Ladyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospice & Care Services