Dovida: New name, new space, same passion for care giving
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Enjoying the celebrations were: Back (from left) care givers Sharon Daniels, Arlene Gray, Caroline Smith, DOVIDA General Manager for Cavan/Monaghan; Wiseman Mugandani, Valerie Campbell, Wayne Devy, Regional Manager Northern Region DOVIDA and Emma Treanor, care giver; front, Noel Farrell, Marie Smyth, Vera Smith and Peggy McCaffrey, Tydavnet.Image 2 of 2
Wayne Devy, Regional Manager Northern Region DOVIDA; Cllr Paul Gibbons, SF, chairman of Monaghan County Council, cutting the ribbon to officially open the new DOVIDA complex and offices in Carrickmacross; Caroline Smith, general manager, DOVIDA Cavan/Monaghan and Deputy Matt Carthy (SF). PHOTOS: Sean McMahonThe care provider formerly known as Home Instead is now called Dovida. The rebrand was celebrated in conjunction with the opening of their new office space in the C:Tek buildings from Enterprising Monaghan in Carrickmacross last Friday.
Inspired by the Latin words for Home (Domus) and Life (Vita), the new name symbolises the core of Dovida’s mission.
“We help our clients to stay independent and comfortable at home for as long as possible,” explained manager Caroline Smith during the launch.
Dovida currently has just under 100 care givers and 300 clients in the Cavan/Monaghan area. With 25 locations all over Ireland, the company provides home care services to people with different needs and abilities. They offer a range of services such as 24-hour care, companionship service, home help, respite, dementia and hospital to home care.
Essential to Dovida is that all involved parties work together in the best interest of the client. “In our line of work it is important to understand the client’s status,” regional manager, Wayne Devy, outlined Dovida's approach to assessing the client’s needs.
“We work with the families, with specialists, with the HSE. So, we all do our part in terms of getting the client home. That is 100% what the client needs.”
Local Councillor Paul Gibbons knows people availing of Dovida’s services and how important it is for these people to be able to stay at home: “They want to be in their familiar setting, they are happier and healthier there. With the lack of nursing home places and the pressure on acute services, it is crucial that people are looked after well in their own house.”
While all care givers deliver equally valuable tasks, Caroline Smith is especially thrilled that Wiseman Mugandani from Castleblaney has been awarded the Ulster Caregiver of the Year award. She sees it as an “appreciation for all the hard work we do”.
Wiseman, who used to be a primary school teacher in an earlier life stage, has been a care giver for two years with the Carrickmacross company. He looks after 15 people, visiting some of them several times a day or a few times week, depending on their need. “It is important to build a relationship with them, so they trust you, because you help them bathing and getting dressed, some just want to chat and have a tea.”
Highlighting that it is not only elderly people who make use of the home care, 44-year-old Noel is one of Wiseman’s weekly clients. Since a stroke a few years ago, he has been partly paralysed and wheelchair bound. The family are thankful for the kind-hearted and witty caregiver. “Wiseman is good craic”, said Noel’s father who couldn’t think of a better person to look after his son.
“Companies like Dovida play an important role in the health sector,” affirmed Sinn Fein Deputy Matt Carthy, particularly when the HSE, in his opinion, cannot fulfil its obligation to provide for this care. He welcomed the decision to open the new office doors within the C:Tek premises in town. “Dovida provide an economic benefit creating jobs in our local community.”