Esker Lodge Nursing Home is delighted to announce that our activity co-ordinator Naomi McElwaine has been awarded a certificate of achievement with Talking Mats Limited. Talking Mats is an innovative, award-winning communication tool based on extensive research and designed by Speech and Language Therapists. The evidence based framework helps ensure that people with communication impairments are at the centre of planning their own care and are involved in decision making about their health, recreation and goals.

Talking Mats have been a helpful tool to aid thinking by people with communication difficulties, including:

•          Stroke
•          Motor Neurone Disease
•          learning disability
•          people with dementia

Talking Mats Limited is based in the University of Stirling and is an award winning social enterprise whose vision is to improve the lives of people with communication difficulties by increasing their capacity to communicate effectively about things that matter to them.

Naomi complete the course over 4 months with the final exam consisting of a film of the talking mats programme in action in Esker Lodge Nursing Home

Armed with this training Naomi is now using the Talking Mats set of symbols developed from the World Health Organisation within our care setting

Speaking of the certification, Esker Lodge Nursing Home’s Managing Director Vicky McDwyer said “we are delighted for Naomi and really proud of her achievement of this certification. Esker Lodge can now implement Talking Mats in our care setting as an additional aid to people with communication difficulties to ensure that they can express their views and have a voice.”

Esker Lodge on the "Bottom Line" with Dolores Martin from 8-9pm on Tuesday 31st March

Going for Growth, a support initiative designed specifically for female entrepreneurs, launched its latest cycle in January 2015 following a competitive process. The 60 successful participants were selected from hundreds of applicants and Cavan woman Vicky McDwyer, co-owner of Esker Lodge Nursing Home was among those selected.

With a combined annual turnover of over €40 million in 2014 and employing 750, this national network of enterprising women are aiming to significantly drive forward the growth of their businesses during the six-month programme.

The Going for Growth programme, which receives funding from Enterprise Ireland, KPMG and the Equality for Women Measure, is based on peer support, where ‘Lead Entrepreneurs’ including some of Ireland’s most successful business women, facilitate round table sessions with groups of ambitious female entrepreneurs who are serious about growing their businesses. The focus on growth is paramount in each group and a strong sense of collaboration and peer to peer support prevails.

Over 350 business women have already taken part in Going for Growth including Cavan businesswoman Anna Costello, MD of NewGenSkin.

 

Listen in to Vicky discussing Going For Growth will Dolores on Tuesday 31st March from 8pm to 9pm on Northern Sound

St Patrick's Day 2015

As you can see from the pics above we had a very lively St Patrick's Day and celebrated some very special peoples' birthdays, Patsy, Hubie and Pat, take a bow. A great day was had by all.

We kicked off the celebrations with a special mass to bless the shamrock the day before. On the day itself we welcomed Marion Crowe's Irish dancers, Philomena and John Smith for a sing song and the children from Ceoltás who showed off their amazing skills to a delighted audience.

A big thank you to everyone involved who made St Patrick's Day such a special occasion for all our residents, staff and families.

Christmas 2014 - Entertainment Update

Hello to everyone and Seasons Greetings. Here is a brief outline of all the celebrations we've been enjoying during December....

 

Friday 5^th December –

We held a  Christmas Concert with Dessie Ronan, Gene Bannon & friends in the Dining Room, Killykeen. There was a great sing song and everyone enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies to kick off the Christmas spirit and mark the turning on of the Esker Lodge Christmas lights. 

Friday 12^th December –

We had a very special Church of Ireland Christmas Service, where everyone was welcomed and we enjoyed a great turn out

Wednesday 17^th December –

We had a lovely day here in Esker Lodge on the 17th December for our residents Christmas Party. Enda McDermott and the band played traditional music and we had poetry recitals by residents and staff. We also had a special guest appearance from the North Pole, with Norbert remarking that he was a "lovely Santa". We wrapped up the evening with a Christmas raffle, where Santa had a gift for "everyone in the audience". A big thanks to the McElwaine's for making it a family affair this year!!!

 

Thursday 18^th December –

We held our special Christmas Mass with Fr Sean & Bishop Leo O’Reilly which is now an annual tradition.

Sunday 21^st December –

 The Ballinagh Choir came in to sing Christmas Carols in Killykeen &  Dun a Rí which everyone enjoyed hugely.

 

 

Pictures from Christmas Day 2014 in Esker Lodge Nursing Home

September BBQ in Esker Lodge

On a lovely mild Friday in September we took

advantage of the lovely weather by having an impromptu BBQ in the courtyard garden. Malachy did a great job as usual
flipping the burgers. Henny and Penny our two hens
were excited to get all the leftover tit-bits. Everyone
enjoyed being out in the fresh air, enjoying the last of the
summer sunshine. Malachy played some tunes on the
tin whistle and a little session evolved with visitors and
residents all singing songs, relaxing in the sun and
enjoying the atmosphere.

As always thanks again to everyone for getting involved and making the BBQ so special.

The Esker Show

To celebrate the Summer in style we decided to hold a Fair

 

day called the ‘Esker Show’- plans were made and all the
 

organizing paid off when on Tues 19th August, Esker Lodge

held its first ever ‘Esker Show’ in the grounds of the nursing

home. The Marquee was set up the evening before and early

on Tuesday morning work began to set everything in place.

Luckily, the sun shone for most of the day with the exception of

a light shower in the afternoon. A write up and photos appeared

in the following week’s Anglo Celt and a piece was also

published in Nursing Homes Ireland’s magazine. A special

photo album of the day is on its way in the near future!

The Show featured a coming together of residents, staff, their

families, representatives from local organizations and the wider

multi-cultural community. A cake, specially designed by Staff

Nurse Jade Arbo was cut by residents Felix McKiernan, Violet Power and Nurse Manager Binimole Santhosh to open the event. A spectacular array of foods from India, the Philippians, France and Ireland satisfied every kind of appetite.

 

Smith’s Ice-cream van was the highlight for young and old alike

who savoured 99 cones in the sunshine.

 

In the Marquee, traditional music flowed from the stage. Dance performances from an Indian and Irish dancer had everyone in awe.

 

A fabulous day was had by all thanks to the hard work of all the Esker Lodge team and their extended family, friends and supporters.

 

 

 

 

  

Lamh Classes in Esker Lodge

Drama and Lámh classes ran for 4 weeks from Monday 7th

July with Deirdre O’Reilly. Lámh is a type of sign language
used with people with special needs or communication
difficulties of various natures. It was also great fun for everyone
who joined the group as it encouraged expression, social
interaction and lots of fun while learning a new skill. If anyone
is interested in Drama let Naomi know, as we hope to run these
classes again in the future.