February Newsletter 2022
Safe Visitation in the Centre:
The HSPC guidance recently changed, and we would like to update you on some of these changes. Our priority is the safety of our residents and we will strive to protect them from the virus and the serious effects of Covid19. We shall and will continue to always provide the best care and protection for them from the virus and serious effect of covid. We would like to thank you for all your cooperation during the pandemic with the restrictions that were in place for visiting. The following changes will take effect from Tuesday 1st of March.
1. The most obvious precaution is not to come to the centre if you are feeling unwell or have any symptoms of covid. Equally if you have been sick or vomiting in the previous 24 hours you are better to hold off on your visit.
2. The guidelines recommend that each resident should nominate a family or friend as a nominated person to liaise with the Centre on matters related to visitation. This person can visit as often as you like.
3. We still require you to schedule your visit in advance, this will allow us to monitor the number of visitors in the Centre. We will review this again in a month’s time. Our aim is to keep the centre free from Covid
4. We will continue to temperature check all visitors when they arrive at the centre. This will only take a few seconds.
5. Visits can now take place in your relative’s room, or they can also be accommodated in the outside visiting pods.
6. We would ask that you use hand gel on arrival at the Centre and again when you leave.
7. We would encourage you to wear your mask during the visit.
I met with residents last week to update them on these changes and they are delighted that they can welcome you back into the Centre.
Challenges comes with change. We are fully aware that covid is large in the community and transmission is greater and faster. We must take into consideration the underlying conditions of resident’s and those who are immunocompromised resident’s that are more likely to get sicker when exposed to the virus. The challenge with the new guidance is that bigger numbers of visitation will come to the Centre, more interaction with visitors and residents and congregating in the communal area. What practical plan can we have? I would advise all visitors to follow the guidelines listed above and always remain vigilant.
If you have any queries or concerns relating to the visitation, please do not hesitate to contact me at personincharge.powdermill@gmail.com., or any member of the nursing or healthcare team.
Joy Berey- Director of Nursing
Recently I have been watching a Netflix series called Chicago Fire. As the name implies it is set in Chicago and based around a group of fire men in a fire station called 51. As you would expect firefighting is a risky profession and there is always a risk of loss of life in a fire. As they deal with those issues the chief fire officer whose name is Boden will often call them together to bolster each other and says: we are a family here and we look out for each other. As he stares into the eyes of each fire fighter and paramedic, petty grievances are put aside and a spirit of camaraderie and support is consolidated.
As I watch this show (and there are now 200 episodes) I think of the Powdermill Nursing Home family, the residents and their families and friends, the staff, our long time contractors, and our doctors and ancillary multi-disciplinary team. Our work family is not there to compete or challenge with our own family but as one wise 92-year-old resident said to me: “and what is wrong with going to two Masses”.
My philosophy has always been to maintain a positive attitude to work. When we enjoy what we do then our work life becomes easier and more rewarding. Our focus has to be clear and it is to see our residents as happy as they can be. Each day there are moments, special moments, a laugh at an old joke, a kind word or a recognition that things are hard now but no one has to be alone. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference in all our lives. To be able to listen, and listen carefully to people is a kindness.
And we have two ears and one mouth which might suggest we all need to listen more.
Joseph Peters- General Manager
I came here in May 2014. I like it here very much, the staff and residents are all nice and friendly. We can go for short walks outside if we like. I have not been to the shops for a while but I am left now again if I want. There are 2 or 3 people here who get the messages from time to time for which I am very grateful for. I have a lovely single room on my own, All in all I am very happy here in the Powdermill. God Bless to everyone. Patricia Brennan – Resident
Good morning to our dear friends at the Powdermill. We left Cork on the 16th November 2021 with such a grand send off. It was a moment of happiness as well as a moment of sadness. What a shock we got on arriving in an extremely hot South Africa dressed in winter clothing.
Peter said that God had sent him back to South Africa because He needed him to prepare for the heat in the after life. We got married on 6th December 2021. What a rollercoaster that day was!! We were informed at 07h00 that we were able to be married that same evening. Beryl being the Mrs Bucket that she is faffed about her outfit while Peter was just his old normal self. After a lot of paperwork completed during the day with the help of my Bishop, we were finally married at 18h00.
We went to Durban and stayed with my sister for our honeymoon at the sea. We visited a lot of the places from our youth. We both grew up in Durban.
We spent Christmas in Durban (a very hot one) and returned by coach (an 11-hour bus ride) to Pretoria. In the summer we have heavy thunder storms pretty much daily from 16h00 to 17h00. You can just about set your watch. There’s nothing like rain down in Africa. So different to the soft days in Ireland. We’re now in limbo waiting for Home Affairs to get our papers sorted out. Peter is now a Bigamist…. Only in Africa can you have two wives😂😂😂
Peter Spear- Resident
I joined Powdermill nursing home back in 2019. I first started off with dining assistant and an activity assistant. And later on I did kitchen porter and joined the maintenance team. I have been working all those roles for more than 2 years now. So, I have decided to do HCA. I am currently doing a FETAC Level 5 course in College of Commerce and have 4 months remaining with the course. I wanted to try something new and experience more stuff, and as well to improve my skills in many ways. What gave me an idea to do HCA is that at an early age I was introduced to an idea and interest of how it is important to mind elderly people. Both of my parents are working in the hospital as nurses and I saw their utmost dedication and hard work as a health care worker and at the same time a satisfaction of being part of one’s health being. I decided to follow their footsteps even if not being a nurse but a healthcare assistant whose responsibility is also of same importance as the nurses when it comes to patient’s bedside care. I have also created a great bond with the residents, we do activities together like doing bingo or assisting them for a walk and having a chat with them. I believe that I should always act in behalf of my patients if they cannot do things on their own for their own good. I always empathise with the residents, I treat them the way I want myself to be treated and as well as my grandad and grandma to be treated by any healthcare professionals
Angela Reyes- Healthcare Assistant