The overriding feeling is that we have the Sword of Damocles hanging over over our heads

ANN CASEY
Senior citizens are among those most at risk and for those running nursing homes, the responsibility of keeping them safe and keeping their spirits up, weighs heavily on their shoulders.
“The overriding feeling is that we have the Sword of Damocles hanging over over our heads,” says Fintan O'Connor of Woodlands Nursing Home in Navan .
While, there have been cases of Covid19 in 30 per cent of the country's nursing homes, Woodlands has not had a case yet and there are stringent measures in place to keep residents as safe as possible.
“All we can do is prepare, do the planning and put all the equipment in place,” he said.
Mr O'Connor says the current visiting restrictions are difficult on residents.

“We took a decision very early to close the nursing home to visitors to keep our residents safe and we haven't had a case of Covid-19 so far.
“It is difficult for residents but they understand, they are accepting of it and realise everyone is doing their bit. They miss seeing their families and grandchildren.
“We had lots of visitors waving in windows on Mother’s Day and there are lots of Skype calls – some of them really enjoy the Skype calls.
“The nine year old daughter of one of our team wrote an Easter card to every resident and for Easter we recorded residents and e-mailed messages to their families.”

He said they are trying to keep the routine as normal as possible for residents.
“We have a couple of ladies who regularly walk into town and now they cannot do that, so they have to walk around the grounds and sit in the sun outside.”
One issue that has been concerning all care workers, hospitals and nursing homes is the issue of personal protective equipment.
“We have a small supply – enough to keep us going unless something major happens and the HSE has said there will be PPE equipment available on a daily basis

“The HSE local support person has been very good to us in all this,” he said.
He paid tribute to the staff at Woodlands who have all been turning up for work.
“Some are fearful – there are people with underlying conditions like asthma and they may also have to worry about their parents or other family members,
“It is tough for them.”
Another issue facing private nursing homes generally is losing staff to the HSE.
“This has never been a problem for us. Working here would be a lot less stressful that working for the HSE. To be fair to the HSE, they haven't been trying to poach any staff.”

Stringent infection control measures and protocols have been implemented in Woodlands Nursing Home in a bid to ensure everyone's safety.
A separate area has been set aside to care for end of life care.
“Whether someone who is dying has Covid-19 or not, the same protocol will apply.
“We have set up a separate area with hits own external entrance. One or two visitors can go in. “They will have to be wearing proper protective gear to stop them bringing in infection and to stop them being infected.

The area has a separate bedroom, sitting room and separate bathroom,” he explains.
Meanwhile, Nursing Homes Ireland met recently with Minister for Health Simon Harris to outline measures it believes necessary to address the Covid-19 emergency in all nursing homes, public, private and voluntary.

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO said: “Over 450 private and voluntary nursing homes are providing care to 25,000 people across the country and are on the frontline in the response to Covid-19. We brought to the Minister challenges being presented to us by nursing homes across the country.
“These centred around timely access to PPE equipment and testing within nursing homes, the necessity for the State to recognise the essential need for nursing homes to be supported around the critical area of staffing, and the need for enhanced staffing and logistical arrangements during this emergency to be recognised in Fair Deal,"
“The minister committed to immediately addressing PPE and staffing issues and to bring forward a package of financial supports for nursing homes,” Mr Daly said.