Dementia Care Professionals
People living with Dementia can continue to live a full life with the right support. Individualised care is implemented based on what is right for each person. It is often the little things that matter and we are more than happy to do what we can to help our residents feel very comfortable and happy in their surroundings.
Care focuses on the skills a person retains ensuring they live a full life rather than focusing on what a person has lost. We pride ourselves on providing expert support and clinical care for our residents. Those living with dementia are likely to need care and support from multiple healthcare disciplines.
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dementia Care
Our inhouse Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dementia Care has over 15 years’ experience working with people living with Dementia in the community and in long-term care.
Sindija Birkenberga holds a Master’s degree in Dementia Care from the University of Stirling. She has 15 years’ experience working with people living with Dementia in the community and in long-term care.
“Our aim is to provide care which focuses on what a person can still do and ensuring they live a full life rather than focus on what a person has lost. People with Dementia can continue to live a full life with the right support from people who want to make a difference and have a passion to do so. I assess each person’s needs from both a physiological and emotional perspective. We implement individualised care focusing on what’s right for each person. I also provide support to families and our staff. We know that it’s the little things that matter and we are more than happy to do what we can to help our residents feel very comfortable and happy in their surroundings.”
Healthcare Practitioners
Social Care Programme
The Social Care Specialist develops our changing programme of activities tailored to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each resident.
Activities are organised to suit our residents and there will be something for everyone.
Some examples are music, flower arranging, dance, spiritual guidance, painting along with more relaxing and sensory activities such as Reminiscence Therapy, Sensory Stimulation (Sonas), Reflexology, Doll Therapy, Cognitive Stimulation Exercise or Pet Therapy amongst others. Day trips will also be organised for our residents.
Inhouse GP Service
Doctor Geraint Warlow MB BCh (Wales) BSc (Wales) PGDip (Warwick) MRCGP is the clinical lead for the GP service which is the only Irish GP clinic dedicated to residents of nursing homes. A framework of care has been created that allows deliverying beyond what is mandated by the HSE. Nursing home residents are excluded from much of the progress made in traditional general practice – services like the HSE Chronic Disease Management programme, for example. This gap is bridged by bringing these services into the nursing home using regular reviews by both the GP and our practice nurse, Sarah Toland.
A balanced and tailored approach to care is taken. What is right for one resident, may not be right for the next. We are here to listen to everyone – firstly the residents but also those around them to find the right path and anticipate and work through some of the challenges ahead.
Doctor Geraint Warlow MB BCh (Wales) BSc (Wales) PGDip (Warwick) MRCGP has a keen interest in complex care and medicine for the elderly and has worked in several different London-based integrated care and nursing home projects and held an academic associate position in University College London before moving to Ireland in 2016. He graduated from Cardiff University with degrees in medicine and physiology in 2007 and became a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2014 and more recently completed a diploma in diabetes from the University of Warwick.
Nurse Sarah Toland RN (TCD) RNP
Sarah qualified as a nurse in 2007 following her training in Trinity College and Tallaght Hospital. She has worked in general practice for 14 years. She provides chronic disease care including diabetes, asthma and COPD. Sarah coordinates the in-house bone health service and is a registered nurse prescriber. Given Sarah’s experience and qualifications, she is able to manage many conditions independently. She is very popular with the residents, families and staff.
Alexandra Donnelly
Alex has worked in primary care for over 20 years and has extensive knowledge of primary care. Alex coordinates the non-clinical side of the medical team.