Caring for your senior relatives and friends this Christmas!

The countdown to Christmas is well and truly under way.  Traditionally a time for celebration and family, Christmas often has less cheerful connotations for the many seniors who are alone.

According to ALONE, which supports older people in need in Ireland, 10% of people aged over 65 are at risk of poverty and 120,000 older people live alone across the country.

Home Instead Senior Care Waterford, which provides care to seniors in their own homes is offering useful advice to ensure our senior relatives, friends and neighbours are safe, warm and cared for this winter.

According to Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead it is imperative that our seniors have a safe and happy Christmas. “We can all play a part in ensuring that Christmas is a highly enjoyable event for all.  Christmas is about friends, family and loved ones enjoying the festivities together.  However not all of our seniors have a friend or relative to call upon, so it is up to us to be mindful of their needs and to keep them company.”

Ms. Connolly stressed the importance of visiting elderly relatives and neighbours over the Christmas holidays. 

“Over the holiday season we tend to spend more time with our parents, grandparents or senior relatives so it is a good opportunity to make sure that they are looking after themselves properly, have sufficient food and heat and are safe in their homes”, she added.  “If you have a neighbour nearby that you know is alone, it is often a good idea to organise a rota for visits or to do some shopping for them so that they will see a friendly face every day.”

“Often, simply dropping in for a cup of tea and a chat can alleviate the loneliness of a senior with no family nearby.  Bringing a gift like a bale of briquettes or a hot dinner is practical and will go a lot further than a box of sweets or a cream cake.”

Ms. Connolly also advised that there are many warning signs to look out for that signal an ageing parent or relative needs more help at home. 

·        Do they seem to be eating well or is food spoiling in the fridge?

·        Have they stopped doing daily grooming rituals like taking a shower or fixing their hair?

·        Are they taking the right medications in the right doses at the right times?

·        Does their car have new scratches or dents?

·        Is mail or newspapers piling up without being read?

·        Are they using furniture, towel bars or shower curtains to pull themselves up to stand?

·        Are their paths and driveways ice free? Ensure that these are kept ice free with salt or sand.

·        Do they have access to emergency numbers and phone numbers of family and neighbours written down or stored in their phone?

·        Is there a supply of medication to get them through the holiday period?

 “If you are visiting a senior relative during the Christmas holidays be aware of things that may be changing for your senior relatives.  Be ready to spot the signs, have those tough conversations and help them get the support they need to remain happy and safe in their own home as long as possible.”

Home Instead Senior Care Waterford provides an array of senior care services such as light housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, transport and companionship, up to and including personal care, dementia care, post hospital care and disability care.

For further information about the services log onto www.homeinstead.ie or call 051 333966.

Local produce to take centre stage at Winterval Enterprise Food Fair

Some of the local produce that will be available from the Waterford Festive Food Fair

 (Photo: Peter Grogan)

Local produce will be showcased throughout Winterval, in a joint initiative by Waterford City Enterprise Board and Ardkeen Quality Food Store.

The Waterford Festive Food Fair, located on Michael Street, will open this Friday, December 13^th to Sunday December 15^th and the following weekend from Thursday, December 19^th to Sunday December 22^nd.

The premise of the initiative is to highlight the abundance of locally produced quality foods and to support the local producers that continue to put Waterford on the national food landscape.

Mr. Ciaran Cullen, Chief Executive of Waterford City Enterprise Board was delighted to support this venture.  He said, “Waterford has a vast array of locally produced food of the highest calibre.   Producers such as Ponticelli Coffee, Edelicious, Joy By Bishop’s Palace Café, Dessert First and M & D Bakery, to name but a few, bring a uniqueness of product to the customer.  They all share a passion to produce and deliver to the public food of the highest standards.”

Mr. Cullen added, “Many of the local food producers that will be exhibiting over the course of Winterval at the Festive Food Fair have been closely involved with the Enterprising Food Network since it began over two years ago.  The objective of this network is to assist food producers in the areas of branding, packaging and route to market, so showcasing them at Ireland’s biggest Christmas festival, Winterval, is a great accomplishment and a real testament to their commitment and to the quality of their food.”

Mr. Colin Jephson of Ardkeen Quality Food Store added, “The philosophy of Ardkeen Quality Food Store has long been to support the local producer and it’s great to be involved with Waterford City Enterprise Board.  This project gives many of our suppliers, such as Jay Bee’s, Eunice Power and Deise Honey the opportunity to promote themselves in the heart of the city during the busy festive period.”

The Waterford Festive Food Fair will be open 12pm to 8pm on December 13^th 14^th, 19^th, 20^th and 21^st and from 12pm to 6pm on December 15^th and 22^nd.

For more information about the Waterford Festive Food Fair or the Enterprising Food Network talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board on 051 852883 or www.waterfordceb.com.

Home Instead Senior Care to provide Emergency Response to Waterford Seniors

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Tunstall Emergency Response to provide enhanced monitored protection for seniors. This pilot programme being rolled out in Waterford City is called HomeCARE support.

According to Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead Waterford, the safety and security measures on offer will give seniors and their family members peace of mind and the HomeCARE support programme will ensure that a “responder” is at hand when needed. 

“We visit clients who have an Emergency Response Monitored system but don’t have family or friends that can respond should they need it anytime 24 hours a day.  What we now offer is that Home Instead Senior Care becomes their “first responders” in the case of an emergency.  As time is of the essence in urgent situations our team of CAREGivers and Community Responders can be at the home of a senior 24 hours a day bringing assurance to seniors and their family members.”

Danette added, “With advanced technology and monitoring a senior person is afforded more security and assurances.  If a person requires assistance they push the red button on a security pendent.  A connection is then made via their phone line or SIM card to the Emergency Response monitoring centre .The monitoring centre staff will then attempt to make contact with the client.  If they cannot make contact they will then make a call to the persons designated contact, and if the person is availing of HomeCARE support service Home Instead Senior Care will respond to the persons needs. “

Tunstall Emergency Response has provided tele-healthcare solutions for over 20 years and welcomed the partnership with Home Instead.  James Doyle, MD, Emergency Response said, “Home Instead has been delivering quality senior care in Waterford since 2009 and we felt that the fit was just right.  We are two companies that that share a clearly defined objective and that is to support seniors enabling them to live full, independent lives in their own homes.”

“With a team of dedicated CAREGivers and a vast range of home and personal monitoring solutions, seniors and particularly their families and carers can rest assured that they are more protected than ever.”

Home Instead opened its doors in Waterford in 2009 with just four staff and today it has cared for over 800 clients, employs 70 CAREGivers along with an office support team of 7, including 3 nurses.

To find out more about the services provided by Home Instead Senior Care Waterford you can visit www.homeinstead.ie or call 051 333966.

Waterford Rotary Club set to launch 16th Memorial Christmas Tree

The Memorial Tree at the Heart of Waterford City in 2012

This Thursday, December 5^th, the Rotary Club of Waterford launches its 16^th annual Memorial Christmas Tree at 12 noon in John Robert’s Square, Waterford.

The Memorial Tree Appeal will be officially launched by The Mayor of Waterford City, Cllr. John Cummins.

William Galloway, President of the Rotary Club of Waterford said, “For 16 years the Rotary Club of Waterford Memorial Christmas Tree has been central to Christmas in Waterford. Most of us have been touched by the wonderful work Waterford Hospice does in our community and Christmas is such an important and appropriate time to thank and reward them. The generosity of the public each year is astounding. It is that generosity that makes this appeal such a success every year.”

In 1998 the first Christmas Memorial Tree appeal was established by the Rotary Club of Waterford to help raise funds for the development of a 20 bed Hospice facility on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital. To date the initiative has raised nearly €450,000 towards Waterford Hospice.

As well as raising much needed funds in Waterford for the Hospice Movement, the Memorial Tree Appeal provides people with a means of remembering their loved ones in a dignified and meaningful manner. Indeed over the years the Christmas Memorial Tree Appeal has become synonymous with the celebration of Christmas in Waterford and enjoys widespread support from the public.