Gran National Day a feature of festivities!
Minister of State for Older People Helen McEntee TD was on hand to launch the annual national celebration of nursing home care Nursing Homes Week 2017.
Nursing homes in Co. Roscommon will join fellow nursing homes across the country in bringing people together to celebrate the positivity of nursing home life and the excellent care provided by staff within nursing homes.
A host of celebratory activities are being organised to enable celebration amongst nursing home residents, their relatives and friends, staff and wider communities.
This year nursing homes are being encouraged to host a very special celebration – ‘Gran National Day’.
‘Gran National Day’ will bring grandparents within nursing home care and their grandchildren together to share stories of times modern and times past.
Conversations will be encouraged around topics such as communication, transport, school, urban and rural living.
Minister McEntee said: “Nursing Homes Week presents a really great opportunity to show our appreciation to the staff who are providing care for residents in nursing homes across the country. The events that are planned are a wonderful chance to celebrate and enjoy memorable moments with the special people who live in our nursing homes. It’s very important to acknowledge and celebrate excellent care of our older population and I wish everyone involved in Nursing Homes Week well.”
Previous Nursing Homes Week celebrations have mixed traditional with quirky. Quirky have included themed parties, talent competitions, street performances, casino days, fashion shows, mad hatters tea parties, sports days. ‘Traditional’ celebrations hosted during Nursing Homes Week include family days, parties, live music, day-trips, barbeques, games, talks and art exhibitions.
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO said: “Nursing Homes Week is the national celebration that affords residents, their family and friends, staff and wider communities opportunity to proudly celebrate the excellent care provided by nursing homes. It also supports nursing homes to generate greater awareness regarding the specialist care they are providing and to inform wider public regarding nursing home care.
“Nursing homes are very positive environments and it is very important we celebrate their intrinsic role within society. Contrary to some perceptions, within these ‘homes from home’ there is great happiness, friendship, affection, devotion, activity and humour. The dedicated staff in nursing homes are excelling in care delivery and enhancing the lives of people entrusted in their care. It is very important to recognise the excellent care provided by staff in nursing homes.”
