Paint it Pink campaign Thursday 4th October

Myhomecare are taking part in the ‘Paint it Pink’ campaign.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in Ireland. 3,100 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

October is breast cancer awareness month and on Thursday 4th October our nationwide offices in Dundalk, Dublin, Cork and Galway wore pink to work to raise awareness about breast cancer in Ireland. Funds raised will be going towards our local hospices for cancer patients.

#PaintItPink

If you wish to donate to the Irish Cancer Society , please donate via this link:

https://www.cancer.ie/cupsagainstcancer/donate

For information and ideas on getting involved please visit:

https://www.cancer.ie/cupsagainstcancer/get-involved-in-cups-against-cancer#sthash.zYBDRZ99.dpbs

Events

Friends of the Elderly Summer Trip 2018

Myhomecare proudly sponsoring Friends of the Elderly North-east Summer trip to Carlingford, Mourne Mountains & Dunleer

Friends of the Elderly ‘About us’

Friends of the Elderly is a non-profit Irish volunteer charity situated on Bolton Street in Dublin City. All funds raised are from donations, volunteers and corporate help. The charity was established nearly 40 years ago with the aim of bringing friendship and companionship to elderly people who might live alone or feel lonely. Starting off with only a handful of Irish and French volunteers, the organisation has expanded tremendously and has grown to over 300 volunteers and 500 elderly members.

Summer Trip

Myhomecare sponsored this years summer trip on 24th August to Carlingford, Co. Louth and 4 staff members volunteered as companions. It was a wonderful day spent with wonderful people. We started off in the Friends of the Elderly centre on Bolton St in Dublin city. We headed for county Louth where we stopped in The Glyde Inn in Dunleer for tea and warm (delicious) scones. We got the ferry in Carlingford, Co. Louth and drove through the Mourne Mountains to Newry. Here we did some shopping and headed back for The Glyde Inn for our dinner, a delicious three course meal.

Fantastic organisation that really makes a difference

Friends of the Elderly provides support, social engagement, inter-generational activities and community-based services. There are social engagement programmes such as: home visitation, friendly call service, social club and organising day trips or social events. Volunteering can one be of the most rewarding things you can do. By giving a little time, you are making an impact on an elderly persons life and gaining a friendship at the same time. https://friendsoftheelderly.ie/

Advice for Older People

National Carers Week 2018

Monday 11th June – Sunday 17th June

National Carers Week 2018 was established to highlight and recognise all the selfless carers. In Ireland, we have a whopping 360,000 family carers. This years National Carers Week is in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Irish Cancer Society, The Irish Hospice Foundation, MS Ireland, Care Allianz Ireland, Central Remedial Clinic, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Disability Federation of Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, St Michael’s House, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland and Special Needs Parents Association.

Who is a carer?

A carer is an angel without wings. The term ‘carer’ can be used to describe both a paid care worker or a family member providing unpaid personal help and support to an older, disabled person or someone with a long-term illness or health problem. Personal help includes help with basic tasks such as feeding, washing and dressing. A carer could be a man or woman looking after an elderly parent as they feel that it is the right thing to do. It could be a sibling looking after a younger, disabled sibling. It could be someone caring for a terminally-ill friend. Carers come in all different shapes and sizes. There are four types of people – those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.

What can you do?

The most important thing that you can do is to help a carer you know. If there is a carer in your family let them know that they are doing a wonderful job and that they are appreciated. Caring can have an impact on the carers social life, cause financial strain and can be mentally and physically exhausting. Take the workload off them by sharing the responsibilities between other family members, friends and neighbours. Help them and expect nothing back in return. A happy life is about giving more than you can take. Share blog posts, carer events or information that you see on social media to raise awareness about National Carers Week 2018.

Recognising our carers

Myhomecare would like to say a very special thanks to our dedicated and hard-working carers. We have such an exceptional team of the highest standards that work with us both internally and externally that are always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that only the best quality of care is provided. We would also like to acknowledge all carers across Ireland for their continuous hard-work. This week should encourage others to support carers who they know and give them the well-deserved break that they deserve.

Looking after the carer

The demand for care is increasing as people are living longer and family carers are looking for more support services like help from paid carers. Due to their dedication and nature, carers tend to neglect their own needs as they focus on the patient. This often leads to burnout or stress. The exhaustion from this stress can result in the reduction in the quality of care being delivered by the carer. To be able to care for someone else you need to look after yourself too.

Get help

It is important that if you feel you are experiencing signs of stress that you identify it and use techniques that help you unwind. If you are experiencing long-term stress that is affecting your health you should visit your doctor. Talk to someone and ask for help. People don’t like to burden others with their problems but speaking to someone can relieve tension and they might even be able to offer a solution to help.

Nationwide Events

Thu 14 Jun Louth Carers Support Group Exhibition
Details	Louth Family Carers Support Group will mark Carers Week 2018 on June 14th from 1.45pm to 4pm. Located in the Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda, the Louth Family Carers Support Group will present an afternoon dedicated to Carers issues. This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend and join in recognising the valuable role carers play. The local Redcross Community organisation will be one of the key exhibitors, and they will be showcasing their specially designed Carers App.
Location	Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda
County	Louth
Organiser	Louth Family Carers Support Group
Contact Details	087 316 1323 louthfamilycarers@gmail.com

For a full list of nationwide events you can visit: http://www.carersweek.ie/events

To keep up to date with content about National Carers Week check our social pages

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhomecare/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myhomecare/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/myhomecare_ie

Advice for Older People, Fundraising & Homecare Awards

Cycle for Brother Kevin 15th & 16th June 2018

Cycle for Brother Kevin 2018

Friday 15th & Saturday 16th June

in aid of the Capuchin Centre for homelessness

Left-right: Deirdre Doyle (Myhomecare), Brother Kevin Crowley (Capuchin Centre), Gary Moran (Cycle committee) and Shannan Carroll (Myhomecare) in the weeks before Cycle for Brother Kevin 2018

Myhomecare sponsoring Cycle for Brother Kevin for the 3rd consecutive year

About the Cycle

Initially called ‘The Great Escape’, ‘Cycle for Brother Kevin’ was established in 2010 by cyclists Fergal Flynn and Paul Kelly. It is a 300km, 2-day charity cycle event to raise funds for The Capuchin Centre for homelessness. The cycle takes place on Friday 15th June departing from the Capuchin Centre on Bow Street, Dublin and finishes on Saturday 16th June arriving in Belmullet Co. Mayo, stopping overnight in Leitrim.

Myhomecare offices nationwide have been collecting for the fundraiser. Our Dundalk office are holding a ‘Spinathon’ in The Marshes Shopping Centre on Thursday 14^th June from 10 am – 5 pm. Staff will take turns on an exercise bike to raise funds for the cycle. All funds raised will go directly towards the Capuchin Centre.

The Capuchin Centre

Inspired by St Francis of Assisi, The Capuchin Centre is a food and day care centre for the homeless of Dublin run by the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Order. Founded by Brother Kevin Crowley 1969, the centre served soup and sandwiches to around 50 people in need. It has since become the biggest food centre providing clothes, medical, hygiene and social services to those in need. Around 300 breakfasts, 600 dinners and 1,700 food parcels are provided to men, women and children each day. The centre costs €3 million to run annually and would be impossible to run without fundraising.

Myhomecare Fundraisers

Left-right: Shannan Carroll (Myhomecare recruiter) and Grainne Ryan (Myhomecare Assessor) fundraising on Grafton St, Co. Dublin

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Left-right: Debbie O’Flaherty (Myhomecare recruiter) and Sheena Higgins (Myhomecare Assessor) fundraising on Shop Street, Co. Galway

Our Cork fundraiser will take place on Patrick’s Street Wednesday 13th June and our Dundalk fundraiser will take place in The Marshes Shopping Centre on Thursday 14th June. Any little donation or cheering and encouragement helps.

Meet the Cyclists

Myhomecare staff have been training hard for the past number of months. Taking part in the cycle are – Myhomecare CEO Declan Murphy, Declan’s sons Ross and Ultan, brother-in-law James Hynes and Myhomecare recruiter from the west Debbie O’Flaherty. Originally from Belmullet in Co. Mayo this is Declan’s third year sponsoring and taking part in Cycle for Brother Kevin. Last year we raised about €100,000.

Declan Murphy (CEO)

Fundraising page: https://www.ifundraise.ie/4223_declan-4-brother-kevin.html

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Ross Murphy

Left-right Brother Kevin Crowley and Ross Murphy at the Cycle for Brother Kevin 2017 at The Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, getting ready to head off on the cycle.

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Ultan Murphy

Left-right: Ultan after completing a 22km trail run along the North Downs Way in the Surry Hills, preparing for the upcoming cycle.

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Debbie O’Flaherty

Pictured: Debbie on the far right with the Galway cycling club

Debbie is our Myhomecare recruiter from the West. Debbie has a cycling Ireland Licence and is also a part of the Galway Bay Club. The only lady on our team; Debbie is setting the pace for the men.

Cycling Ireland – Guide to cycling on the road:

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/downloads/ci%20ride%20leader%20-%20guide%20to%20cycling%20on%20the%20road.pdf

Pope Francis to visit The Capuchin Centre in August

Pope Francis is planning a visit to the centre while on his trip to Ireland in August. Speaking to Newstalk Brother Kevin said: “I’m so delighted, and I think it’s absolutely fantastic, that none other than Pope Francis himself is arriving to Capuchin Day Centre. I think that’s a huge, huge honour for the people in need, and for the homeless people.”

For more information on Myhomecare, you can visit our website: www.myhomecareie.wpengine.com or Facebook Page: myhomecareie.wpengine.com To donate, please visit our fundraising page ‘Declan 4 Brother Kevin’ on www.ifundraise.ie

The Cycle:

http://www.cycleforbrokevin.ie/

The Capuchin Centre:

http://www.capuchindaycentre.ie/Capuchin_Day_Centre_2013/Capuchin_Day_Centre_for_Homeless_People.html