It’s no surprise that singing improves health and well-being, both for those in care settings and those in the wider community. To bring understanding of this to a wider audience,  ‘Ageing Voices’ is a series of online talks, celebrating and exploring this topic aimed at musicians, carers, health care teams working with older people, and everyone lucky to be ageing with a love of singing.

Online sessions are taking place from 1-2pm from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th November – and on Thursday 12th, Áine Murphy – carer from our Moorehall Lodge Ardee – is part of the panel that will talk about ‘Singing for Care’. They are free to join, but you will need to register here > www.singireland.ie/news/ageing-voices

On a monthly basis, LMFM picks a local hero to give an award to and on 10th December the monthly winners all gathered to receive their awards at the Valley Inn.

Aine was October’s unsung hero and appeared on Late Lunch to talk about her work here at Moorehall Lodge Ardee.

The awards pay tribute to the people of the north-east who help others, volunteer for community organisations or do good deeds on a regular basis.

We’re incredibly proud of Aine’s achievements and wish her many congratulations on receiving the well-deserved award.

The Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Care Awards recognise excellent care provided across a range of disciplines within nursing homes and innovative practice in care provision.

RTE presenter Marty Whelan will MC the national awards ceremony final on Thursday, November 14 at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel.

Speaking about her nomination, Áine said: “I nearly dropped the phone when I found out I had been nominated, but because I wouldn’t swap this job for the world, I feel like a winner every day.”

“I started working with Moorehall Lodge at 17, and through this job I have flourished as a person.

“I would certainly recommend this as a career for others. Our household model makes caring very personal within a positive living and working environment.

“Moorehall Lodge is a warm and caring place to work where everyone feels at home and part of a family.

“When you come to work on a Monday morning, you can expect to be filling everyone in the household in on what you were up to that weekend.

“You get a huge amount of feedback from the people you are caring for and it creates an environment where people grow into themselves.”

Over 300 nominations were put forward from people in communities across Ireland for the NHI Care Awards’ ten award categories.

NHI represents over 400 nursing homes throughout Ireland, and the fact that just 28 people have been shortlisted for the finals shows the scale of Moorehall Living’s achievement.

Moorehall Living CEO Sean McCoy was delighted with the news of Aine’s nomination.

“This recognition on a national stage means to so much to Aine and all of us at Moorehall Lodge” he said.

“We are proud that both our residents and staff think of Moorehall Lodge as home, and Aine and the team around her are embodiments of that ethos.”

RTE Radio One’s Today With Sean O’Rourke featured a report on the classes, which involve a combination of breathing exercises, child-like playfulness and laughter exercises to produce laughter for prolonged periods of time.

Reporter Evelyn O’Rourke shone a light on the amazing feel good factor generated by the classes, which are hosted by Drogheda-based trained laughter yoga specialist Louise Carolan.

Classes are hosted on a monthly basis, as part of an active social programme, and involve residents and staff from all six households at Moorehall Lodge Drogheda.

“Laughter is a serious business and it is the best medicine. It is amazing to share it in a nursing home where you can see people’s eyes and faces lighting up as the class progresses,” said Louise.

“In the classes, we use fake laughter to stimulate and generate real laughter. Laughter makes everything feels better, teaches you resilience and consistently lightens everyone’s mood.”

Director of Care at Moorehall Lodge Drogheda, Caroline Day, believes that there are amazing benefits from the classes, which include such sections as giving out laughter.

“We have six households here, and so all residents may not know each other. But when they start laughing it creates a connection between people, especially those who may be shy about making connections with others,” said Caroline.

“Behind the laughter there is work being done, giving the residents a talking point among themselves and their visitors.

“Laughter yoga has so many benefits. Because participants are breathing in more, they are increasing their lung capacity, allowing more oxygen in which leads to more relaxation.

“While the residents may start off with a fake laugh, before you know it, it turns into a real laugh.,

“When we laugh, the laughter releases serotonin, which is our body’s natural anti-depressant. It also releases endorphins, which are our body’s natural pain killer.

“So straight away, we have a better sense of wellbeing. Physiologically and physically we have a better sense of who we are.

“After the yoga has finished, residents will still be in that happy mode for about an hour afterwards.”

The classes, which have been running for a year, were originally suggested by Moorehall Living’s activities co-ordinator Frances Byrne.

RTE listeners heard Moorehall Lodge residents speak about how much they enjoyed the class and couldn’t stop laughing.

“It makes me feel good. Everywhere you look, someone is laughing,” said one resident.

Family visitor Liam Doran was effusive in his praise for the classes.

“These activities, and the socialisation that goes with it are absolutely vital,” he said.

“You can see this morning that my mother-in-law is buoyed up by it. She is happy and talking about it. Little activities go a long way.”

Dermot, who has worked in the maintenance team across Moorehall Living for the past decade, was recognised for his special contribution to the life of Moorehall Living.

The recognitions on the night honour staff members who have gone above the call of duty in the past year at Moorehall Lodge Drogheda, Moorehall Lodge Ardee, Moorehall Retirement Village and My Life by Moorehall Living.

The night, attended by almost 200 staff members, board members and retired colleagues, was a chance for Moorehall Living to show its appreciation for the part that the staff plays in the award-wining culture.

A host of staff members were recognised for 15 and 10 years’ service with Moorehall Living at the glittering night as well as many categories voted on by colleagues, residents and families.

The appreciation honours as voted by residents and families went to Patricia Fitzpatrick (Drogheda), Aine Murphy (Ardee) and Elaine Brennan (My Life by Moorehall Living).

There was huge applause as Joy Thomas (Drogheda), Andrew Rafferty (My Life) and Trudy Gillespie (Ardee) took the plaudits from their fellow team members as the Most Supportive Colleague in each service.

The staff members at Millmount household at Moorehall Lodge Drogheda won the John McCoy Team of The Year perpetual trophy.

Leah Murray from Moorehall Lodge Ardee was the winner of Ola’s Prize – an educational bursary named in honour of Ola Noga, an inspirational colleague who passed away two years ago.

Leah is currently studying sign language at Trinity College and combines her duties in Moorehall Lodge Ardee with providing sign language services to the new My Life by Moorehall Living service.

15-year service awards were given to Temitipe Odumosu and Roma McCreanor while 10-year recognitions were awarded to Dermot Caffrey, Caroline Caffrey, Theresa Giggins, Madgalena Gawlik Brzegowy, Sharon Burns, Trudy Gillespie, Jeena Antoney, Vivienne McGahon, Pawel Nowicki and Anand Mathew.

“Our staff appreciation night is one of the highlights of the year for us. We come together to say thank you to our staff who are at the very heart of our award-winning care,” said Founder and Chairman Michael McCoy.

“We are all very passionate about our work and are very proud of the unique and warm care environment we have created where people really flourish.

“We are proud that both our residents and staff think of Moorehall Living as home, and our whole team are embodiments of that ethos.

“With just under 300 staff members, Moorehall Living is a large contributor to the economic life of Drogheda, Ardee and Mid-Louth, but what makes our care special is the love that our staff have for each other and the people that they care for.”

Maeve Montgomery, the Dementia Adviser for Co. Louth, will be on the unit to give information and advice to anyone who has any questions.

The unit will be at Ardee Library, Market St, from 10.30 am to 1 pm on Friday 16th February and will give information and support to people with dementia and their families in their own communities. This unit brings trained staff and volunteers to the heart of Irish communities with one-to-one consultations also available.

Following an inspection by Dementia Care Matters from the UK last month, both Households were awarded a Level 1 ‘Quality of Life National Accreditation Award’, which scores a home as providing exceptional person centred dementia care.

Only 1% of over 700 centres assessed through the UK score a Level 1. So, we are incredibly proud and delighted that our teams’ approach is being acknowledged internationally.