Ballymote Daycare Centre

Description

We are a Daycentre for elderly in South sligo Ballymote Co Sligo. We are ran by sligo leader partnership with hse funding. We are all fully qualified HCA and work brilliant together as a team thankfully. We are open 7 years in August before this I worked in Gurteen health centre and also covered in Daycentres all across sligo . I knew what I didn’t want in a Daycentre and together we worked to build a friendly happy place that people enjoyed coming too , We are open Mon to Fri 9 to 2 first clients in at 9.20 tea, coffee on arrival. We might do anything from booking appointments to nct to sorting out sky for someone. Soup, bread at 11 dinner at 12.15. Activities daily , bingo , cards , music ,Arts ,gardening. We done a lovely art project with sligo art services had expedition in library and our painting has pride of place . We team up with our local library for fun quizzes every month to keep mind active and we joined then for healty ireland chair yoga. We love been part of the community and have great support GAA if wins pops in with trophy, local dance clubs visit regularly and schools at Christmas for Carols . We host Hello How are you coffee morning for mental health awareness we raised over €1000 for North West Stop. We have transformed our little Daycentre inside and outside and clients are proud to be involved and a part of making it a little home from home. We go on daytrip every year with help of clasp and Garda community bus this year we are going on The Rose of Inisfree. We go to Knock every second year as our clients are of different religions so to keep everyone happy. Our hairdresser visits every second Tuesday and chiropodist every 12 weeks clients love as can get in on service bus get hair , toes done while in the Daycentre, get good healthy dinner and enjoy music or bingo and dropped home again . Saves family and carers trying to make appointments with work commitments. We have almost 30 clients daily so lovely to see people enjoy coming we have a waiting list but try and accommodate everyone as soon as possible. We have a lovely out door space that clients can enjoy in the sunshine some every help with flowers and painting . The local Beautician held a pampering day was lovely nails, hand massage, mini facials. Ballymote Daycentre is some where we are very proud of and lucky to have such wonderful clients and team who CARE its not just a job its family. We hope you might come visit us and be very very welcome. Thank you
Aileen Flaherty
Ballymote Daycare Centre
Lord Edward Street
Ballymote F56NX94
Co sligo

Aim of Initiative

As I said I have worked and covered in alot of Daycentre. I know what I wanted in our little Daycentre. I would love if other Daycentres were as active in the care , needs of what elderly people want from a Daycentre. To listen to them , involve them in everything from planning of dinners to activities. To really listen, respect they are amazing people and deserve this time in their lives to be fun , friendships formed and looked after . Its not just a job it’s much more it’s second Family.

Who is it aimed at

The Clients they are amazing group of people love hearing their stories. We are in the middle of writing a Daycentre book a lovely man Wayne O’connor is helping us with he comes every Thursday Clients have found old photos and remembered stories. When book finished we will visit 2nd class students in primary school to tell the stories and they might draw pricture, images of what the protray from the stories. It’s a way of keeping their stories alive with the next generation as afraid be lost when they pass away. And life is changing so fast be lost forever if not captured in our book .

3 Steps critical to success

1. I think for us . We opened 7 years ago I had experience of Daycentre work . Met before I met my two coworkers from day one they followed with me and we grew into a team . The Daycentre wasn’t in great shape was dark , depressing with chairs all around the walls , no pictures , table cloths or anything nice .
2. Step two we met our clients was only about 12 at the time. It took them a while to get to know us for the trust to build. We cleaned up outside moss , weeds , bins etc and baby steps worked on inside.
3. Step 3 where we are today 7 years on . Inside and outside made nicer for our 30 clients daily . The Daycentre is bright and cheerful. Our staff has grown from the three of us . We have support from Tus and Rss schemes. Daycentre now is vibration, happy , place where friendships are built and memories are made . Some place we are very proud of and look forward to many more years with our second Family

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. At the beginning was alot as inside and outside wasn’t nice was dirty , smelly from cats and bins .
   We worked hard to clean up hard work and determination every thing we done was noticed and praised by our clients they appreciated us making it better
2. At the start was myself and two girls who worked different days but our team has grown thanks to scemes . We don’t have petty cash so hampers and raffles helped to make few small changes, community seen these changes and supported us with donations.
3. We are where we are today our little Daycentre beautiful inside and outside for our clients. We have a good little team who all has all went and done health care/nursing modules over the years on their own initiative as they love the job . Main challenge is we are all fully qualified HCA but as not hse ran service we not recognised with hse wages or pension plans which can be a little disheartening as we all do same job but in my heart know we give100% and go home happy every evening knowing we are making a difference and clients are happy and cared for

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. To made Daycentre a bright, happy place
2. To build my team up. To work on their own and as part of a team for the good of the clients attending
3. We have come so far in the 7 years
   We have created a safe , happy, social place to meet where friendships are formed and memories made