A leading home care provider has shown the efforts it has made to keep Galway’s vulnerable people safe and well in their own homes throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, during a visit to its office by Anne Rabbitte T.D. and Minister of State with responsibility for Disability.
Home Instead Senior Care Galway employs almost 200 carers to look after some 500 older and vulnerable clients across County Galway, and to date the company has recorded just one positive case among staff and clients.
“Our whole team was delighted to have the opportunity to show our local TD and Minister the amazing efforts they have made during what was perhaps the most difficult time in their career,” says Suzanne Ryan, Managing Director of Home Instead Senior Care Galway.
“The dedication our carers have shown to our clients has been second to none, and with fantastic support from the office, including training, PPE and new health and safety policies, they have managed to keep this devastating virus at bay.
“We are immensely proud of our track record in keeping clients safe and we are delighted that Minister Rabbitte got to witness what we do, first hand. Of the single case recorded since the start of the pandemic, the individual has recovered, and our carers continued delivering care in the safest way possible as they recovered. None of our 15 clients with disabilities contracted the virus. These figures strengthen our belief that home is the safest place to be,” says Ms Ryan.
Minister Rabbitte visited the home care company’s office in Oranmore, and was introduced to a number of key staff members and a carer, who introduced her to the innovative and practical measures they’ve taken to get through the crisis and keep clients safe at home.
“I commend Home Instead Senior Care on the innovative measures they have introduced over recent months to ensure that their clients’ care and support-needs continue to be met,” Minister Rabbitte said.
During the meeting the local T.D. and Minister of State discussed a number of issues relating to the forthcoming Statutory Home Care Scheme.
“Work is on-going within the Department of Health to determine the optimal approach to the development of the statutory scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. A high-quality, consistent home-support service, focused on keeping people well in their homes and communities for as long as possible, is a key enabler to ensuring that people across a continuum of care get the right care, in the right place, at the right time, as envisaged in the Sláintecare Report,” Minister Rabbitte explained.
Home Instead Galway is one of 25 different offices that the home care provider has in Ireland. Each of them is an approved provider of HSE Home Support Services, and also offers private home care services through its well-trained CAREGivers.
