Macroom Senior Citizens
Macroom Senior Citizens is a community based voluntary organisation providing services in the areas of residential care, education programmes, housing and social aspects of life for the elderly in Macroom and the Lee Valley area. It is also committed to working with the full participation of individuals and groups in order to improve facilities for the elderly in our community. We provide meals in our centre, along with meals for the elderly in their own homes to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. It is our belief that all people and in particular the elderly have the right to live independent, active and full lives and we strive to provide services to enhance this quality of life. We provide seven Sheltered Houses at Sullane Place and thirteen residential units at Sullane Haven. The Father Ryan Hall which is the centre for many activities, including our meals service, weekly bingo, monthly socials, art and craft classes, line dancing classes and the older people in dance program.
History
The philosophy of this agency is as follows:
Macroom Senior Citizens stands for providing services in the areas of care, education programmes, housing and social aspects of life for the elderly. We provide meals in our Social Satellite Centre, along with meals and visitation for the elderly in their own homes to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation and to promote a sense of security and neighbourliness. It is our belief that all people and in particular the elderly have the right to live independent, active and full lives and we strive to provide services to enhance this quality of life.
Details of Agency
Macroom Senior Citizens are based in Lucey’s Lane, Macroom, County Cork. They were founded on 12th June 1968 with a purpose of providing meals on wheels to the elderly in Macroom Parish. Since then Macroom Senior Citizens have come a long way and are now providing a wide range of services for the elderly of Macroom and district.
Services provided to the elderly:
• Daily lunch
• Meals on wheels
• Laundry
• Chiropody
• Weekly bingo
• Monthly social
• Summer outing
• Christmas dinner
• Tai Chi
• Bealtaine Festival
• Artists in residence
• Sheltered housing – Sullane Place
• Residential accommodation – Sullane Haven
Analysis of Agency
Macroom Senior Citizens is comprised of a committee of 20 voluntary members who look after fundraising to finance the services provided in the Social Satellite Centre. Sullane Place (Sheltered Housing – 7 units) and Sullane Haven (residential Accommodation – 13 units) has a full-time team of staff numbering 8.
• An administrator – Pat O’Connell who is concerned with looking after the smooth running of both Sullane Place and Sullane Haven as well as co-ordinating events for the elderly in the region.
• Four care-workers provide care and company for the residents in Sullane Haven.
• Two cooks.
• One maintenance worker.
• The agency also has voluntary workers who assist in laundry services and meals on wheels deliveries. Volunteers also man our charity shop “The Shopeen” which provides essential funds to help our services to survive.
In conjunction with Age & Opportunity personnel for Sullane Haven are now being trained in ways for providing activities and exercises for the elderly. Personnel are also trained in correct lifting procedures for the elderly for health and safety reasons before taking up positions in the centre. As this is residential accommodation, personnel are not required to have nursing qualifications.
Sullane Haven is run with help from the HSE and therefore public health nurses visit the residential centre on a regular basis.
Sullane Haven caters for 13 elderly people and opened its doors to its first residents on the 15th July 2002. All bedrooms are en-suite and are fully furnished, all meals, laundry, heating and 24 hour care is provided. There is a kitchenette on both the ground and first floors, fully equipped with fridges, microwaves and cookers if residents wish to cook for themselves or entertain guests. Sullane Haven complies with all health and safety regulations with special attention being paid to the needs of the elderly. A chiropody service is also provided.
Funding from the Health Service Executive helps in the running of the centre and provision of services. This is supplemented by fundraising by the Friends of Macroom Senior Citizens and Sullane Haven through our Shopeen, donations from the De la Salle College Christmas Charity Appeal and funds raised from the sale of Christmas cards by the Sullane Art Group who meet weekly in the Father Ryan Hall.