Gardaí give security talk to elderly

Recently appointed Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan alongside Sergeants Joe Downey and Brian Howard gave the presentation on home security at the Ennistymon Daycare Centre on Monday.

“The talk was very interesting and for many of the people present, it was their first time meeting Colm O’Sullivan. They were very impressed to see him there. They knew Joe Downey, of course. The gardaí gave very practical, commonsense tips but everyone acknowledged that it was good to hear them reinforced,” said Edel Kenny, staff nurse in charge of Ennistymon Day Centre.
The facility in Ennistymon has been open for 20 years to people from North and North West Clare.
“Groups from different areas come in on different days. We have a bus, which goes out and collects people, so for those without transport, they have the opportunity to come in on the day the bus goes to their area. For people who have someone who can drive them, they can come in every day,” she outlines.
The facility, Ms Kenny claims, is a lifeline for people faced with rural isolation.
“The centre is really fabulous and the people who come here all comment on it. People who are in the hospital for respite have the opportunity to come across and join us for activities. We tell them about the bus service and they might decide to come back because they enjoy it. There is the added benefit of having a nurse here at all times so if anyone needs something checked out, I can do that for them. We also have a leg ulcer clinic, a physiotherapist and a hairdresser on site,” Ms Kenny stated.
“We have loads of activities like bingo and computer and art classes starting but if people don’t want to take part in them and just want to sit and have a chat, that is fine too,” she concluded.