IT was just a little before 3pm when residents of Hillcrest House Nursing Home in Letterkenny celebrated Shrove Tuesday with home-made pancakes. 

 

The Long Lane-based care facility was every bit a ‘home from home’ as its residents were surrounded by their loved ones to enjoy the day, which comes just before the commencement of Lent. It’s an important date in the residents’ calendar, but it’s also just one way which signifies how the centre’s mantra of a home from home really is the reality. 

 

Hillcrest Nursing Home provides 24-hour health and social care to 34 male and female residents. It provides long-term, respite and end of life care including care to people with dementia. 

 

A recent Health Information Quality and Authority (HIQA) report had featured the centre and another Donegal home in an inspection report. It was part of 60 inspection reports on residential centres for older people.

 

The health watchdog had been critical about a number of elements including potential fire risks, management and governance and rosters/staffing levels at night time. Subsequent media reports had followed. 

 

On Tuesday, the Donegal News met with relatives of loved ones at the centre. They spoke of how making the decision to bring your loved one to live in a care facility is heart-wrenching, but for them, the hardest of decisions was made easier by the openness and warmth of staff in Hillcrest. 

 

They were eager to emphasise the many positives of the facility. While they accepted HIQA inspections must be carried out and findings publicised, they said they were left disappointed not more of the positive aspects of the unparalleled care their loved ones receive at the hands of hardworking and dedicated staff was not of more prominence. 

 

Tina Carr Lewis had a very close family relative who was a resident of the centre before their passing. She has been a volunteer and advocate of the facility for 12 years. 

 

“I was so impressed by the care my family member received that I decided to become an advocate and keep visiting the residents here when my loved one died. I used to bring the residents sweets and years later I am still coming here.”

 

Tina assists with bringing residents to an Alzheimer’s dance every Tuesday in the Clanree Hotel. She also takes residents shopping and to mass in a specially adapted wheelchair van. 

 

Just recently the centre introduced ‘Playdates at Hillcrest’. The novel initiative was thought up by local mum, Caoimhe Ni Fhearraigh who wanted to bring a little sparkle to the lives of the residents. Mums, dads and their little ones visit the residents once a week for a chat and a play. The programme has been a runaway success, but Hillcrest House Nursing Home has always been ahead of its time with novel programmes, even introducing dog therapy some 13 years ago. As Tina recalled bringing her Pomeranian dog, Benny, into the centre, it sparked a  memory with one of the residents, Bridget, whom Tina told us used to keep treats especially for him. 

 

Bernard Connolly has been nursing his entire adult life. He has a loved one currently living in Hillcrest. 

 

“When you come in, you just feel so welcome. Not all nursing homes are like that. The care of residents is put first. They are a big family here.

 

“I’m very familiar with nursing homes and residential homes. What is immediate here is the interaction staff have with residents. There are open visiting time, nothing his hidden, you can visit any time. 

 

“We did a lot of research before my loved one came here in August, and the improvement in them has been fabulous. They have gone from using a zimmer frame and now they’re up and walking, and their appetite is much better too. The staff are just unbelievable.”

 

It’s evident that as well as the care residents are receiving, their relatives have also formed strong friendships with one another. 

 

Una Rossbothan said: “You feel guilty about leaving your relative, but here because the atmosphere is so lovely you go home and you know you have done the right thing. It’s a hard decision, but coming here you feel reassured that it was the right decision, for them as well.” 

 

Sister-in-laws Anne Elliott and Deirdre Callaghan praised the quality of food at the centre and the many daily activities on offer including bingo, flower arranging, arts and crafts and music. The rosary is also said once a week and residents who are unable to attend family weddings can watch the ceremony via a streaming service. 

 

“The staff are just unbelievable,” they said. 

 

PJ Callaghan said he was disappointed that more positive aspects from the HIQA inspection report were published widely. Report findings said residents had said the home was well run, and they felt safe and relaxed living there. Inspectors had observed good communications between all staff disciplines and residents. Staff promoted the rights of each resident, and the quality of interactions between staff, residents and relatives were good and demonstrated genuine warmth and respect. 

 

Tina said: “The staff were able to tell us that the care for the residents was unparalleled to anything they had ever seen. The inspectors said that. The highlight was the care for the residents was unaparallel.

 

“They (residents) mind each other and have great friendships. There is not a family request that Anne Gallagher (manager) will not go out of her way to do. The relatives of the loved ones are also very close and it means that if we come in and we notice someone doesn’t have a visitor that day we will spend time with that resident too.”

 

It’s a very rewarding job for staff too, as one commented: “It’s all about the residents being happy in their own surroundings. They are reassured by our faces every day, some of them get to know our names. They have staff they can rely on.”