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During the autumn meeting of the Provincial Officers’ Mess, some three hundred Provincial Officers were entertained by a short talk given by one of the two special guests, Maggie Holloway and Lea James. Maggie leads the small team of four ‘Care’ workers of the RMBI. Before appointment to her present job, Maggie was the Home manager of Shannon Court. In her talk, she gave us an insight into the working of the professional side of the Institution, for the 1842 Residents in the 17 home, all those seeking admission to a Home, and those being assisted within their own homes. The upkeep, maintenance, development and redevelopment of these homes is based upon a 30 year rolling programme. Admittance into a care Home is based upon need rather than a strict waiting list. The emphasis nowadays is directed towards providing care within a person’s own home where most petitioners want to be. Unfortunately, residency is not free for anyone. A Brother or a dependant with assets over £21K has to pay the full cost of their residency. For those with less than this, a claim is made on Local Authority and Government Social Services agencies for funding to which all elderly have an entitlement. Once accepted into a Home, the resident has a home for life. Our homes are not for sitting around and dying, they are for living and enhancing the quality of life as far as possible. Within reason, pets are allowed, so to are personal furnishings and furniture. Maggie went on to explain the way her team works with those in their care and how they work with the Lodge and Provincial Almoners through the preliminary assessment of need and those who can be helped within their on home. All this procedure is well documented and widely circulated among the Brethren within their Provinces. She went on to speak about the work of the Friends of the RMBI who provide funding for residents to go on holiday. The Institution also has access to a hotel in Malta for limited periods of the year. Such holidays have to be self funded or by sponsorship. Provinces and individuals are invited to sponsor a resident for such a holiday. Finally, both Maggie and Lea, thanked all the Brethren for their ongoing generosity and support of the work RMBI., and for inviting them to the Mess today. In thanking both our guests for their time and most interesting talk about their work, our PGM said this Province will be only too pleased to sponsor a resident for next February’s holiday in Malta. This was greeted with great applause by the assembly. KRL |