yblive Summer 2009, the Last Word
Ballymun Home Support Services started over thirty years ago when Sr. Lena Deevy from the Little Sisters of the Assumption saw a need for family support within the community and the Ballymun Home Support Services was set up as a good neighbour service. Local women were trained in home and family support and crèche facilities were set up to enable women with young children to deliver this really important work.
Although our service has evolved over those thirty years, our mission statement remains the same now as then:
We believe that older people who are frail and vulnerable within our community have the right to remain in their own homes, with dignity, for as long as possible and that they have the right to quality care and support to do this. We believe that children have the right to the kind of care that enables them to feel secure and happy in a healthy environment. Our aim is to provide an excellent service to those people who need it, both young and old.
Our staff provide support to the following:
- Older people, especially those who are frail and living alone
- Persons who have a handicap, due to physical or mental disability
- Families in need of help and support
- Any other category of person in need of home care or social support
After referral, assessment and dialogue with persons concerned, we offer the following help as necessary:
- Personal Care
- General Household Tasks
- Meal Preparation
- Social Care
- Shopping
- Family Support i.e. role modelling parenting skills, school runs, homework assistance etc.
Here in Ballymun Home Support Services we initially heard of the youngballymun Ready Steady Grow service through, meetings organised by the Health Service Executive. We believe that our long established involvement within the community and our experience will definitely play a major role in making Ready, Steady, Grow a success and build trust with families participating in this new service.
Aileen Doyle
Anne Fahey
Florence Lawlor
