Kildare nursing home staff nominated for Team of the Year prestigious awards

Two finalists from County Kildare have been named for the 2025 Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards, the nation's premier celebration of excellence in nursing home care.

The staff at Suncroft Lodge Nursing Home have been shortlisted in the Team of the Year category. The staff at Suncroft Lodge are the heart of the home, bringing compassion, professionalism and dedication to every moment shared with residents. Each team member, whether in care, activities, support or hospitality, plays a vital role in creating an environment where residents feel safe, valued and truly at home. Many staff members have served for 15 to 25 years, becoming the backbone of the home. Their experience and wisdom support residents whilst inspiring newer staff. United by a shared passion for people, the team celebrates small victories, shares laughter and offers reassurance during difficult times.

Jimmy Cox, a resident at Craddock House Nursing Home in Naas, has been shortlisted in the Resident Achievement Award category. Born in Carrick-on-Shannon, Jimmy spent 38 years with the Bank of Ireland before working as a financial consultant to the Bank of Valletta, Malta. A man of wide interests, he is passionate about rugby, horse racing and golf. Throughout his career and retirement, he gave generously to his community, chairing the Evaluation Committee of Kildare County Enterprise Board and the Kildare Leader Programme. Since joining Craddock House in 2022, Jimmy has enriched the lives of fellow residents and staff alike, driving the collaboration with The Moat Writers that led to Branching Out, a published collection of resident memoirs.

The NHI Care Awards, held in association with Homecare Medical, recognise exceptional care being provided across Ireland's 440+ nursing homes, which support over 27,000 residents nationwide. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 6, at the Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin.

Tickets for the NHI Care Awards are available to attend the event on November 6 at www.nhicareawards.ie 

National Recognition for Local Excellence

The finalists will join nursing home professionals from across Ireland at the awards ceremony in November, where winners will be announced across multiple categories celebrating excellence in nursing, care assistance, activities coordination, culinary services, end-of-life care, dementia care and innovative practice.

An independent judging panel, led by Professor Amanda Phelan from the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health at DCU, alongside Paula O'Reilly, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation, and Andy Heffernan, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, selected the finalists based on compassion, innovation, dedication and impact on residents' quality of life.

Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: "We are incredibly proud to recognise these Kildare finalists for the NHI Care Awards. These nominations reflect not only their personal dedication and skill, but also the exceptional standard of care being delivered in Kildare and across Ireland's nursing home sector.

"Every day, nursing home staff demonstrate remarkable compassion and professionalism in caring for older people. These awards provide a platform to celebrate their achievements and to say thank you for the profound difference they make to residents' lives and to their families."

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