Working Life: ‘We are very focused on maintaining the dignity of our residents’

Diana Rose, director of care at Orwell Healthcare, Orwell Road, Rathgar

Diana Rose, director of care at Orwell Healthcare in Rathgar. Picture: Moya Nolan

“I came to Ireland from Kerala in India in 2007. It’s where most Indian nurses working in the Irish healthcare system come from. There’s a high literacy rate in Kerala and a lot of people opt for a career in nursing because there are good professional opportunities overseas. We are paid well in Ireland compared to at home.

“I lived in Clara, Co Offaly, initially, but as a city girl, it wasn’t for me, so I moved to Dublin in 2008. I spent six months with an agency working at various Dublin hospitals, getting good experience. While dropping off my CV at Orwell Healthcare, a private nursing home on Orwell Road, in 2008, the head of HR invited me to an interview. I’ve been there ever since.

“Nursing homes often have high staff turnover, but our retention rate is strong. While the national average is 36%, ours is 20%, reflecting the positive working culture and the value we place on staff development. We regularly receive positive feedback from staff about the training they receive. We have a culturally diverse workforce, with around 25 nationalities at Orwell Healthcare.

“We are very focused on maintaining the dignity of our residents. When new residents are admitted, we engage in a comprehensive process with family members to ensure that we know as much as possible about the person, about their likes and dislikes and what triggers to avoid.

The more you see the resident as a person, the more you help maintain their dignity and sense of self-worth.

“There are no nursing homes in India. Traditionally, children have been responsible for looking after their parents, but that is changing because so many children are leaving India to work overseas. I think we will see nursing homes in India in the next five years.

“I have three children, two girls and a boy. Shruthi (16) is the eldest, then Ghazal (12) and Jones (10). I called my son after Peter Jones, the owner of Orwell Healthcare, because I am so grateful for all the opportunities he has given me.

“My girls and I love shopping. I also love cooking traditional Indian food at the weekends, which the children love.

“Last year, we all travelled to Kerala for the Christmas holidays. It was the children’s first experience of Christmas in my native city.”