Working Life: We provide care and support from initial diagnosis throughout the dementia journey
Edel Carey, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Féileacán Bán Nursing Service. Photograph Moya Nolan
After an early breakfast, I leave home in Lucan for the Féileacán Bán office in Cherry Orchard Hospital, often stopping en route for a house call, if a patient is unwell and requires assessment or further intervention.
At the office, I respond to emails and follow up on calls. Féileacán Bán (White Butterfly) is a nursing service model providing care and support from initial diagnosis throughout the dementia journey for the patient and their family.
My role demands a delicate balance between planned activities and unexpected events.
I meet with the team, where patient cases are discussed, and I set rosters for the brain gym home programme.
I tend to have early meetings to keep clinic time for patient and family focus.
I manage a variety of clinics at Féileacán Bán or in community health centres.
These include patient follow-ups, non-cognitive symptom assessments, pre-programme assessments, brain health reviews, and advanced care planning.
I also make community visits and address crises through virtual consultations, home visits, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Once a month, I facilitate a memory lounge session for cognitive stimulation, brain health, and physical exercise for patients.
Mentoring general student nurses and postgraduate nurses is a key part of my role.
Over coffee with colleagues, we discuss complex patient cases for additional expert perspectives.
This collaborative approach is crucial for managing multifaceted presentations.
Lunch often doubles as a working session.
On Thursdays, a fellow from the Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, attends Féileacán Bán and this facilitates mutual learning and global collaboration.
Afternoons involve care planning and family meetings. I conduct education sessions onsite, in the community, or at a higher education institution (HEI).
Juggling tasks requires constant adaptability.
On late days, I prepare for carer support network meetings, managing three groups tailored to different stages of dementia.
These sessions wrap up around 7.15pm, then I organise charts for the next day.
To unwind, I enjoy cycling. On days when I finish at 6pm, I read research papers in the garden (weather permitting) to stay ahead in my PhD work.
- A new book documenting the story behind the Féileacán Bán service is available at exa.mn/white-butterfly.
- For more resources on dementia, see the HSE’s www.understandtogether.ie.
