The late Geraldine Casserly, who tragically died from Covid-19 earlier this year, has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Home and Community Care Ireland Home Care Awards, supported by First Ireland Insurance Brokers.
Geraldine’s husband Seamus and adult children Conor and Samantha attended the ceremony and accepted the award on her behalf.
Originally from Kilmurray, Co. Roscommon, Geraldine lived in Frenchpark with her family and was one of the founders of Westcare Homecare. Geraldine founded the company in 2013 with Sharon Carter.
A nurse by profession, Geraldine had helped to develop the company to what it is today, a home care provider operating across the counties of Roscommon, Sligo, Galway, Cavan and Monaghan. Geraldine, who was in her early fifties, is remembered as a caring and sensitive person who added so much to the lives of other people.
Joseph Musgrave, CEO of HCCI, which is the representative body for home care providers and advocates for home care services to be made available to all on a statutory basis, said: “HCCI would like to award this first Lifetime Achievement award to our late colleague Geraldine Casserly. Geraldine made a commitment to care through becoming a nurse and then through her commitment to homecare as well as to her local community through her business Westcare Homecare. There is no one more worthy of this inaugural Lifetime Achievement award”.
Geraldine’s husband Seamus accepted the award along with his son Conor and daughter Samantha and described Geraldine as “a beacon of care, a shining light”.
“She had the natural ability to treat all clients with compassion, respect and dignity and offered comfort and solace to all her clients and their families during their darkest times,” he said.
“Geraldine was dedicated to giving the highest standard of care and was truly at her happiest when helping others.
“I’d like to thank Joseph and HCCI members for this recognition of Geraldine’s legacy. HCCI is a fantastic organisation and provides us all with invaluable leadership in our mission to provide the highest standard of homecare to all our citizens”.
Keith Gill, Director of Health Care Insurance, First Ireland said: “We are honoured to support this inaugural HCCI Lifetime Achievement award. From everything I have heard about Geraldine, it’s clear that she was a very special person who gave so much to her clients, colleagues and the wider home care sector and is truly deserving of this award.
“Sincere condolences to Seamus, Conor and Samantha on their huge loss and also to Geraldine’s wider family, colleagues and friends”.
