Growing old is natural, writes Breda Gallagher, healthcare assistant, Sacred Heart Hospital, long-stay hospital for the elderly, Castlebar, Co Mayo
You have to remember that when a person is old, it does not mean they are "sick". This is the ageing process that is happening to us all, every day. It is important to maintain an old person's dignity and independence.
People are referred to the Sacred Heart Hospital by the public health nurses, GPs and local hospitals. Most are between 75 and 95 years of age. Many are able to get up and do for themselves. Others need full patient-care.
As healthcare assistant, I assist the nurse. At the moment we have a dual role, which means we all do a mixture of cleaning, catering and patient-care.
That is changing soon, so that certain people will be allocated to each task. I am looking forward to it because patient-care is what I love. I did the healthcare assistant course in 2001, which covered eight modules: an introduction to nursing, health and safety, first-aid, communications, care support and care skills, team-working and work-experience.
We are conscious not to let patients see if we are in a hurry, because they won't feel relaxed in our care. We are here to accommodate them. We are conscious to speak slowly, and to be careful of our tone of voice and facial expressions.
These people love getting to know you and they become very much your friends. I suppose no matter what age we are, we love the bit of news, don't we? I find that you have to leave your troubles at the door when you come to work - and that is good for you
Getting patients up in the morning can be challenging. It is lovely when they have their own style and know what they want to wear that day. Some stay in bed, but we encourage them, if they can at all, to get up for a while.
It is good for them to sit out and interact with other patients. We have art classes here - you'll notice the paintings framed and hung along the hallways and wards.
Mass is said here every morning, which is great, because mass has been an important part of many of their lives.
We help people who want to make a phone-call home, or to write a letter or send a card. We encourage them to do those little things. It makes them feel involved in the world. If an occasion is coming up and their family can't take them out to get outfits, we see that they are taken out. Parties and day-trips are arranged. While they are encouraged to go, they have choice. Again, the point is dignity.
We try to create a homely environment. If they don't feel like eating at 12pm, they can eat later. Someone might say, "I didn't feel like it in the morning, but I'd like to get my hair done now." So, you make an appointment and get their hair done that day.
Some get no family visitors at all, but we are fortunate to have St Vincent de Paul and the Friends of the Sacred Heart Hospital, a wonderful group of volunteers who visit the patients.
Maybe it is because my grandfather lived with us when I was small, but I have always had a love for elderly people.
To work in an environment like this, you have to. I wouldn't really consider it a job. Of course it is - we get paid. But I love coming to work."
- Interview by Kathrine Burke