This article is from page 16 of the 2012-06-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
REGINA House has been embracing all that is positive about aging for 40 years. This weekend staff, residents and their families celebrated the service the Community Nursing Unit, Residential and Day Care Services have provided in Kilrush and West Clare for four decades.
The building on the Cooraclare Road began life as a welfare home in 1973, the first of its kind in the country.
It provided care to people who were mobile but in need of a little care so that they could live independent lives.
As the years passed, so too did the needs of the residents and the community and, subsequently, the role of Regina House also changed.
Today, the unit provides 30 beds for long-stay residents.
It also provides two outreach palliative care beds for Milford Hospice.
The attached day care centre provides a get-together and facilities for older people from Loophead to Lissycasey and from Labasheeda to Quilty.
When the centre is not in use at the weekends, it becomes a treatment room for the out-of-hours GP service Shannon Doc.
The community physiotherapist is also based there, with carers groups using it at night for meetings and training exercises.
On Saturday last, the 40-plus staff, along with residents, service users and their families, celebrated Regina House’s 40th anniversary.
Following an address by Director of Nursing Anne McNamara, a cake was cut to commemorate the day by John Woulfe, the longest resident; Mary O’Dwyer, who has just recently retired from Regina House after 37 years; and Mary Hassett, the longest serving member of staff.
The party organised by the Health Promotion and Standards Group, with the support of the staff and the director of nursing, included a blessing by Fr Sheedy PP followed by refreshments and entertainment by local schools, the community and family members of former residents.
While those present were celebrating 40 years of change at the HSErun Regina House, they were also celebrating a philosophy that has remained constant – “to embrace a positive approach to flourishing in later life”.
“We promote independence, health and well being and we aim to provide a safe therapeutic environment where privacy, dignity and confidentiality are respected,” the HSE said of the home.