CARING FOR THE ELDERLY                

 The Day Care Centre in Castlecomer is one of the places where the elderly in our community are cared for. The centre is purpose built. It compliments the medical services by supporting elderly individuals in a house environment and helps relieve pressure on relatives looking after older persons at home.

On the 7^th of May four girls from 6^th class and Sr. Nuala went to visit the Centre. I was one of the girls. We got a big welcome from both staff and elderly people. Sr. Rosaline told us that the centre operates on a five-day-week basis from 10a.m to 4p.m.

¨     On arrival the elderly are made welcome with a cup of tea and biscuits. A four-course meal is provided daily and a cup of tea and confectionery before returning home.

¨     The mini-bus which has wheelchair facilities was bought by the social services with the help of local funds and a small grant is used to bring the elderly to and from the centre. It is important that when they arrive home they are escorted in-doors.

¨     A chiropodist is on call and also holds clinics at the centre.

¨     The Doctor and the Public Health Nurse visits the centre regularly.

¨     Two physiotherapists visit the centre; they do exercises with the groups and give the elderly talks on how to keep fit.

   Sr. Rosaline said that all this activity would not be possible without the help and financial support of the committee, the helpers, and the local people of Castlecomer.

It is not all activity. There are social events during the summer and autumn: The elderly, who are able, are taken on a holiday for a week. Occasionally they go on day outings, and visit nice gardens. At Christmas they have a party in the Golf Club house.

 Ned and Maureen were reading the newspaper, until we distracted them

Sr. Rosalie thanked us for visiting and hoped to see us in the future.  The old people we met were very happy coming to the centre where they met friends and enjoyed themselves for a few hours each day. We were delighted with our visit. Now we know how caring the Day Care Centre staff is, as they take care of the elderly, we hope when we are old that Centre will still be there.

 By Aishling Farrell and Áine Molloy

Drop in Centre

Aishling, Aine, Rebecca, Derbhilia and Sr. Nuala visited the Drop in Centre in Castlecomer. We spoke to Bridie Mac Clean, who works there. In this building there is a ‘Drop In’ room where the elderly can call in for a cup of tea and wait to be collected and taken home.

 The centre :

Ø     Is open Mon-Fri from 10.00am to 1.00pm.  

Ø     A laundry service is provided at the centre.

Ø     A counselling service is also provided for people who may need it.

Ø     Information on topics such as grants and other Government entitlements to the elderly are available here.

Ø     Upstairs there is a Refuge Centre.

  Bridie who works there on a voluntary basis five mornings a week said,“ I get great satisfaction from my work, I know I am doing something for the elderly and all of my work is voluntary.” Pity there are not more like Bridie!

Bowdens Court

Castlecomer Voluntary Housing Association opened twelve houses for independently capable elderly in October 2000. These houses included eight single bedroom houses and four two-bedroom houses. The houses are fully occupied and there is a waiting list. To qualify for the scheme applicants must be over sixty years of age and be on Kilkenny County Council housing list. 75% of occupants must be taken from Council housing   list.

Aisling, Aoife, Áine and Derbhilia went to see the houses after visiting the Drop in Centre. “We really thought they were nice houses. We did not meet any of the people who live in them, and we were too shy to knock on a door!” said Áine.                               

By Rebecca Loughlin, Áine Molloy, Derbhilia Coogan

My Auntie Peggy is a home help and I asked her to tell me about the service.  It is a service provided by the Health Board to look after elderly and sick people.
She visits four people daily for one to two hours, which she feels isn’t enough. She provides general help around the house depending on the needs of the person. Sometimes she cooks for them and other times she does some housework, for example lighting the fire, cleaning the house, making the person’s bed and doing his/her shopping and lots of times she just talks and listens to them. The South-eastern Health Board pays her. She thinks they are not paid well enough, but money was never her reason for doing the work. She just loves looking after the elderly. She said they need lots of company, someone to chat with, because many of them are lonely. Their families have gone from them. Not every elderly person can get a home help. It depends on their needs and if recommended by their doctor.  She thinks that there is not enough being done for elderly by the Government, that the service could provide extra home help in some cases and provide better facilities for them. Every old person living alone should have an alarm around their neck; if they need help he or she just presses a button. Family members, sometimes with the help of a home help, care for their elderly people. A carer could spend an average of 47 hours per week caring for an older person. Many people get satisfaction from caring, but at times the carer needs a break and some support from other people. The people I visit look forward to me calling and are very thankful for the little I do for them said Auntie Peggy.

By: Katie Brennan