In reviewing 2023, staff at in the HSE’s Cashel Residential Older Persons Services recalled one of the year’s highlights which were two Award ceremonies, both being the focus of muchattention in the weeks before Christmas!
Over two separate occasions (as regards the Croí Óir and Tír na nÓg wards in the Our Lady’s Hospital building), the staff, residents and their families enjoyed the “Celebrating Resilience” gatherings. In addition to refreshment and entertainment (including costumed, musical contributions from some members of staff), the occasions featured each resident being presented with an award reflecting their natural strengths and abilities. These ranged from “Flower Appreciation Advocate” to “Outstanding Singer”.
HSE/South East Community Healthcare’s Cashel Residential Older Persons Services include wards over two floors accommodating up to 49 long stay residents in the former Our Lady’s County Surgical Hospital building, the 11 bed St. Clare’s Unit on its grounds and a 21 bed Rehabilitation Unit and Day Hospital in the adjacent St. Patrick’s Hospital complex. The 18 bed St. Anthony’s Unit for long stay older person’s care in Clonmel is also under the management of Cashel Residential Older Persons Services.
Speaking about the “Celebrating Resilience” initiative, Director Nursing for Cashel Residential Older Persons Services Denise Flynn said:
“We are very conscious that the last four decades of older persons care in Cashel (and at St. Anthony’s in Clonmel) have been ones where we have maintained an excellent reputation as a care facilities. As staff, we are deeply appreciative of the support the service receives from residents, their families and the wider community. Of course, our most recent history included coming through the pandemic times, during which great perseverance was shown by residents, staff and their families in each case.”
“The “Celebrating Resilience” awards are a small but significant gesture to and for those at the centre of all we do – the residents and the varied life experience, capabilities, thoughts and talents they all have and that we get to appreciate from day to day.”
Among those to echo the enthusiasm with which the venture was undertaken were Nurse Ade Rashidat and Michelle Coleman (Admin), who worked alongside Health Care Assistants Karen Hogan and Carmel McNamara, design team and activity co-ordinators Elaine Bourke, Eileen Corrigan and Breda Fitzgerald and Senior Staff Nurse and the compere of the ceremonies Alice Carew to ensure a lovely occasion.
All involved were very excited about these events. Specially designed invites designed invites for both residents and their family members were issued and the advertising of the events in the run-up added to the anticipation. There was entertainment on the day, with the help of some of our staff members who have musical backgrounds and everyone enjoyed the refreshments that were arranged for the day!
Ailish Lonergan (Asst. Director of Nursing) said that following the success of inaugural 2023 “Celebrating Resilience” events, everyone was looking forward to it being an annual fixture in the calendar of Cashel Residential Older Persons Services.
Last updated on: 12 / 02 / 2024
