Staff and residents from the two homes that are relocating to it from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI’s) residential care homes in Londonderry and Portrush, were asked to name the new home. Trinity House was chosen as it symbolically reflects the coming together of three homes into one, while marking it with a clear Christian identity.
Welcoming the opportunity to get an on site up-to-date briefing on progress, Dr. McNeely said, “As we enter the final stages of getting ready to open, I have welcomed the opportunity to take a look round our newest residential care home.
“As Christians we are called to be a reflection of God’s love for people, so the care of our older citizens will always be an important ministry for our Church. As people begin to move in, in a few weeks time, what is now just a building on the verge of completion, will become a welcoming and caring home for 50 people, and I look forward to being invited back to meet the residents and staff when they have all settled in.”
The official handover to PCI is scheduled for this week and the inspection by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority the week after, when residents and their families will be able to view and select individual rooms.
PCI’s Council for Social Witness has overall management responsibility for the Church’s residential care homes and its other services. Secretary to the Council, Lindsay Conway, who accompanied the Moderator to Garvagh, along with the Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. Trevor Gribben, said, “First and foremost, we want to ensure that our residents across all of our homes are provided with the best possible care. Trinity House will increase our ability to provide much needed residential care for older people in the northwest area, including facilities for those with dementia.
“As we prepare to open our newest home, we want to acknowledge that this is both a time of celebration but a time of sadness too; as we relocate from Ard Cluan in Londonderry and York House in Portrush, Mr. Conway continued.
“While we give thanks for the special care that our dedicated staff have given to hundreds of older people at both homes down the years, we would also ask for the support and prayers of the Church as we relocate to Trinity House and look forward to working with our two congregations in Garvagh.”
Trinity House will increase PCI’s overall residential care for older people, with the creation of 50 en suite rooms, 16 of which will be available for people living with dementia. The new home will also have a dementia friendly sensory garden, the third of PCI’s residential care homes to have one.
Photos: (1) The Moderator, Rt. Rev. Dr. Noble McNeely talking to site foreman William Kennedy
(2) With the tower of First Garvagh Presbyterian Church in the background, (LtoR) Rev. Dr. Trevor McCormick, convener of the Council for Social Witness, Rev. Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Moderator and Lindsay Conway, Secretary of the Council for Social Witness on their tour of Trinity House.