Transformative Nursing Home Caru Programme Marks Two Years Since Launch

Caru is a quality improvement programme focused on improving palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care to residents of nursing homes and their families and loved ones.  This is a multi-strand programme aimed at supporting all staff in delivering good quality end- of-life care.  

It is grounded in evidence-based practice and aims to expand the confidence of nursing home staff in planning and engaging in end-of-life care. Most importantly, the programme recognises that this preparation is required for all team members within nursing homes, and not just those with medical or healthcare roles.  As a result, Caru has helped to train catering, administrative and support staff alongside healthcare and nursing colleagues, this inclusive approach ensures that all team members are empowered to engage compassionately with residents, their families and colleagues, even in challenging situations. 

The free Caru programme has been delivered in almost half of Ireland’s private, public and voluntary nursing homes since it launched in 2022. Programmes are delivered through a series of networking events, including project echo learning networks, quality improvement workshops and webinars.  A team of Caru regional leads engage with nursing home teams around the country, using a series of workshops to train and empower them through evidence-based practice methods, and learning initiatives. 

Irish Hospice Foundation also delivered a unique Arts & Health programme within nursing homes has also generated successes in engaging nursing home residents and staff members in discussion on grief and their own end-of-life wishes using art, music and dance as a way to open important conversations. 

Caru Seeds has seen a range of successful projects, many of which have delivered ongoing change within nursing homes. At Milford Care Centre in Limerick the team has formed Milford Voices Choir, which is a choir of nursing home residents.  This initiative was set up by the activities co-ordinator, Michelle Clifford and choir co-ordinator Aisling Rafferty.  Music is a fantastic way of promoting conversation and conjuring memories, and this choir had many interesting conversation as residents discussed and chose the music they would like to perform. Milford Voices Choir will be holding a special Christmas Carols concert in Milford Nursing Home this December.