A meaningful programme of Christmas Events at St. Luke’s Home for older people.

Dec. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- Spirits are high at the home following resident Sylvia Moloney’s Nursing Homes Ireland’s Resident Achievement Award which was presented to her by President Mary McAleese, while resident Rose Beare was shortlisted for Age Action’s Silver Surfers Most Dedicated IT Learner Award.

To kick off the Christmas season, Nemo Rangers Hurling & Football Club played host to an outing for the residents of St. Luke’s Home (who were joined by their peers from St. Finbarr’s Hospital and St. Patrick’s Hospital), on November 25th last, to promote continued participation of older people in social situations and to encourage each individual to attain their optimal potential for physical and mental health.
St. Luke’s Home is currently host to the very unusual music from Orla Busteed, a therapeutic harpist, who plays in the Dementia Unit on a weekly basis, helping to ease stress and increase physical energy and consciousness levels in those residents.  
The Home is currently ‘on song’ in another way with several of the city’s choirs giving free pre-Christmas concerts.  Eugene Browne (Resident Advocate at St. Luke’s) told us:  ‘The number of choirs and performers willing to give their time to St. Luke’s is tremendous.  They come in and raise the roof with fabulous carols and music and it’s very uplifting for our residents and clients of the Day Care Centre’.  Choirs, bands and drama groups visiting during the Christmas season include St. Nicholas Brass Band, Active Plus Drama Group from Mayfield, Ballyphehane Ladies Choir, The Butterfly Drama Group from Mahon, St. Francis Church Choir and Our Lady of Lourdes School choir, in addition to soprano Mary Hegarty and Jack Coughlan & Friends making their annual visit over the duration of Christmas.
Mr. Browne went on to say: 'Next week is Christmas party time at the Home and we are looking forward to planning a special one for everybody. Nagle Community College held a fundraising soccer blitz recently and their generosity enabled us fund new decorations to add to the festive and homely atmosphere and we wish to acknowledge their thoughtfullness in this regard'.

‘The pre and post-Christmas period can also be a lonely and stressful time for our residents as they reflect on the current year and its highs and lows, and some may be fearful of the future and what it might bring.  Therefore, we have a lovely programme of events lined up to brighten their days immediately  before and after Christmas also, with several events  scheduled to keep the residents hale and harty’ Eugene added.

Speaking as President of St. Luke’s Home, Bishop Paul Colton said: ‘All of us in society have a special duty of care for the older person.  That responsibility is, however, a joy.  It is very rewarding.  I want to take this opportunity to extend warm greetings and a special Christmas blessing to each of our residents and to their families, as well as to the many volunteers, artists and fundraisers, who support our work week by week and year by year. Most of all, my thoughts and prayers are with all older people and their families at this time - I wish you all peace and joy this Christmas and every blessing for the New Year.’