Liverpool-born Dot Kelly, director of nursing at Cloverlodge Nursing Homes, in Co Kildare and Co Offaly, loves working and caring for the elderly
My day is divided between the two Cloverlodge nursing homes and entails travelling from one to the other, from Offaly to Kildare and often onto Portlaoise and Dublin.
We have 70 staff and 70 patients between both homes. Many of our residents are from the locality and neighbouring counties but several come from Dublin.
As director of nursing, I manage both facilities, overseeing the staff and care of our elderly residents. I also cover shifts at weekends and sometimes during the week if need be. I enjoy working the floor - it's important to be hands on as you can become a bit detached otherwise.
Much of my day involves liaising with the Midlands Health Board (Offaly) and the South Western Health Board (Kildare). I also deal with multidisciplinary teams including physiotherapists, dietitians, public health nurses, GPs and hospitals regarding medication, for example.
I start work (in Birr) between 8.30am and 9am and finish by 6.30pm. The first thing I do is get an update from staff about the residents, to see if they had a comfortable night or if there were any problems.
I then arrange GP visits or appointments with the dentist, physiotherapist, optician or dietitian.
We cover long-term care for residents, respite and convalescence (after-op), so much of my time is spent on the road visiting hospitals, GPs and health centres, as well as the families of residents.
Much of what I do is a form of marketing - letting people know we're here. Nursing homes are different to what they were long ago. Today, the rooms are all en suite and we like to think we are a home away from home. We make sure the homes are happy and to this end offer a range of activities and exercises which is important for the residents' overall care.
We run Sonas sessions for residents with dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson, and for stroke sufferers. It's a form of cognitive stimulation to nurture communication and relax the mind. It was started by a Sisters of Charity nun, Sr Mary Threadgold, a Dublin-based speech therapist.
The sessions help the residents retain their abilities using multi- sensory stimulation, massage, music and repetitive methods. There are normally eight in a group and a session lasts half an hour.
I came to nursing relatively late in life. I started training in my mid-30s when I had raised my four children. I trained in Whiston hospital in Merseyside, and worked in the regional burns units for many years and then part-time with the elderly.
My husband and I used to regularly come on holidays to Birr, his hometown. In 2001 we decided to return for good. Cloverlodge was opening up and I got a staff job there. I was appointed to the manager's post in 2002. Then Cloverlodge in Clonmulion opened in 2003 and I was appointed director of nursing.
I'm never bored - I never have the time!
The job is challenging and I've always loved working with the elderly. I find I learn a lot from them.