Christmas is a time of goodwill, good cheer and a very good meal, but it can also be a difficult, lonely and emotional time for people who are elderly and alone.
So, to ensure that the older members of our society are cared for this Christmas, community workers keep an eye on those who may need special care and attention.
Under the umbrella of the HSE’s Enhanced Community Care programme, which is part of Sláintecare, teams belonging to the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) will be delivering festive food to elderly people in Dublin.
Throughout the year, just like their colleagues around the country, the dedicated team at St James’s Hospital aim to improve the quality of life of older adults. Last year, they rolled out a programme of Christmas dinners to those who were on their own. Following on from their success last year, they have teamed up with the Knights of St Columbanus to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy Christmas dinner this year.
Berneen Laycock, ICPOP operational lead, said the idea is to reach those who may be unable to attend an organised Christmas dinner elsewhere.
“During the year we come across a lot of isolated people who have no family or who live alone – so we keep a list and link in with them again coming up to Christmas to see if they have plans and if they would like to receive a Christmas dinner,” she said.
“It can be a difficult time of year for people and we want to make sure that nobody is left alone. Even a call from someone delivering a dinner and having a quick chat might be the only interaction that person receives that day.
“This is the second year of the initiative, and we are building on the success of last year by expanding it to support more people. Last year I collected the dinners that were kindly donated by Little Flower Penny Dinners in Meath Street and our healthcare attendant, Pauline, delivered them.
“This year, due to a surge in demand for this service to supply and deliver the dinners to a large amount of patients, the ICPOP team have partnered with the Knights of Columbanus, who have been supplying Christmas dinners to those in need for the past 100 years. They also have a big Christmas Day dinner in the RDS with free admission, meal and bus transport every 20 minutes from the city centre. This is another great option for people who might be alone on Christmas Day.
“Our team will be working over the Christmas period and there will be healthcare attendants specifically allocated to visit those living alone, ensuring they are receiving care and company during this time.”
Healthcare attendant Holga Kimpeno is part of the ICPOP team who will be helping colleagues like Berneen to bring festive cheer to elderly people this Christmas.
“I am happy to work on Christmas Day because I really enjoy helping people and I don’t want them to be lonely,” she says. “I also really enjoy spending time with the patients and will be making visits across the areas of Dublin west and Dublin South City.
“I love my work, which involves supporting older people in the community every day, but when they hear I will be popping in at Christmas and they won’t be spending the day alone, it’s so nice to see their faces light up with joy.”
Sharon Keating, advanced nurse practitioner with ICPOP, says there is something very special about being able to share joy with people at Christmas.
“Our team provides crucial care and support to older people with complex health needs, allowing them to live well in their own home. Like many other healthcare workers, I will be working over the Christmas period,” she says. “I’ll be calling to see vulnerable older patients in their homes, ensuring that their care needs are met and providing support to their families.
“Over the years I have worked at Christmas in intensive care units, in surgical wards and in the community, and in every place it has always been a really lovely time to work – and I’ve found that adding something simple like a Christmas jumper or reindeer antlers always brings a smile to patients’ faces.”
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