End-of-life care vision launched at Mullingar community nursing unit

Residents and staff at Cluain Lir Community Nursing Unit in Mullingar officially launched their End-of-Life Care Vision today.

The project is a central part of their work with CEOL (Compassionate End of Life), a programme run by the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF). 

CEOL is a quality improvement programme which aims to support staff in providing the best end-of-life care for people living in residential care centres in Ireland. 

Cluain Lir began working on CEOL in 2016 when staff participated in some of the first programme workshops. It was evident from the beginning there was a person-centred approach to care there and CEOL presented an opportunity for staff to develop this with an even more focused approach to end-of-life care, in particular. 

The Cluain Lir CEOL Group were keen, from the start, that the residents would be included in developing the end-of-life care vision. (Continues below photo.)

 

Jolene Dervin, the speech and language therapist, volunteered to lead on this and as a result all residents, including residents with communication difficulties were supported to participate. 

The formation of a vision for end-of-life care is a key component of CEOL. End-of-life care is everyone’s business and this is reflected through the creation of a vision that is developed and owned by all residents and staff. 

A further extension of Cluain Lir vision was led by Karina Browne, a multi-task attendant with a special interest in activities. Working with residents and staff, she created two pieces of artwork and pictures of trees, the leaves of which are the thumbprints of residents and staff. 

Speaking at the launch, the CEOL development co-ordinator for the midlands region Joanne Brennan, said: “Completing these projects has enabled the opening up of discussions between residents and staff. 

“Displaying their vision and artwork is a powerful public statement that end-of-life care is important to everyone in Cluain Lir.”

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with them on the CEOL Programme. To see how they have whole-heartedly welcomed and embraced the programme, grown and developed their CEOL Group and how it is having a real impact on the quality of not just end-of-life care, but on all care for their residents is truly inspirational.”

Every year more than 7,500 people in Ireland die in nursing homes and residential care centres. CEOL, launched in 2017, is now active in 100 plus sites across the country.
For more information about CEOL, click here.