Larne nursing home adapts to crisis with more than a little help from its friends

A period of adaptation has ensued as the team and residents adjust to the lack of visitors to the home, and constant updates are received in relation to the use of PPE (personal protective equipment), with staff now being advised to wear masks, even where there is no evidence of patients with Covid-19.

One thing that has not changed, however, has been the good humour and positive attitude of all as they get on with whatever the current situation brings. A sense of community spirit has also been vital in bringing hope and encouragement to difficult days.

Liz Rowan, managing director explains: “In the first couple of weeks of the outbreak we were delighted to receive items from local food outlets who were being forced to close their doors once lockdown was announced on 23 March. Since then, the help has come in different ways.

“Like many nursing homes, although we keep a good supply of certain types of PPE which we use regularly (gloves, aprons, hard surface wipes etc.), we soon realised that there was a time coming when we would also need face masks and eye protection. Our normal suppliers were finding it difficult to source these items, but I was given details of a contact who put out a request on our behalf. Within a day we were given donations of masks and eye protection – sufficient for that initial period – from Carrickfergus based company Ulster Industrial Explosives and from quarrying company F. P. McCann! What was lovely about these interactions was that we discovered links with our nursing home, for example that we had previously cared for the grandmother of the representative from the Carrickfergus company.

“In addition, we have been able to supply each member of staff with a mask for their personal use outside the home thanks to the creative skills of my mother, Margaret Boyle.”

Gilaroo’s link with schools has also been a benefit. Not only have some of the part-time care assistants who are still students been available to help cover shifts, they have also proved invaluable in managing the technology to enable ‘virtual visiting’, that relatives have the opportunity to see that their loved one is looking well and being well cared for.

Nicki McCrudden, Nurse manager, stated: “Although we have been able to remain Covid-19 free thus far in Gillaroo Lodge, we are kept busy meeting the usual needs of all our residents, many of whom have complex health needs. My staff team deliver top quality nursing care, but I realised at the start of the outbreak that I would need additional staff to help fill the void left in the afternoons by no visitors, and that I needed to ensure that our residents still look well groomed, even when our regular hairdresser is no longer able to visit. Our student staff have helped fill these gaps. They have been the willing organisers of schedules of WhatsApp video calls, have learned new hairdressing skills, and have kept residents busy in the afternoons with a variety of activities.

“We were delighted with an offer from Larne Grammar School to help in some practical way, and a donation of art paper and poster paints has led to some very creative art work from our residents – and we have been able to share this with the relatives, who have been very thankful for the ongoing communication – it is so important that they are kept in touch with what their loved one is doing during this period when they are not able to visit.”

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