Portlaoise team supports older Laois residents in their homes

A team of local men has stepped in to fill a gap that helps older Laois people continue to live comfortably in their own homes.

Supported by Laois Partnership, the Laois Services to Elderly People (LSTEP) programme's mission promotes independent living for older people in Laois and help them to enjoy the best quality of life in their own homes.

It's claimed that this is achieved by providing general property maintenance support such as home repairs, lawn cutting, and fitting alarms.

Headquartered at the Clonminam Business Park in Portlaoise, team manager Michael Malone coordinates 19 staff. Some of whom are participants on either the Tús or Community Employment work placement scheme.

Michael, who previously worked in the Tús work placement department of Laois Partnership Company, is the third LSTEP manager since its inception in 2008. He's carrying the mantle previously held by Sean Gorman and Willie Marum.

He estimates the team helps about 40 people per week by drawing on their individual skills and experiences to meet the needs of their elderly, and sometimes vulnerable, customers.

“The workers are extremely highly skilled. They’re extremely helpful to the elderly, as they go above and beyond – for example, if they’re sent to paint three doors, I know they do five. They’re called out at all hours and always display good nature, good banter, and good craic,” says Michael.

As LSTEP is operated as a social enterprise, customers are charged to ensure the service is sustainable but prices kept to a minimum.

"We’re not there to make money, we just have to make enough to keep going,” says Michael. “I go out twice a month and price up to ten jobs, so we have around 30 jobs a month on top of the weekly and daily work, ” he said.

Michal Burnos, a qualified welder from Poland, has been with LSTEP for 18 months, and Michael Lawless from Portlaoise, who has been in the building trade most of his working life and with LSTEP for 11 years. They carry out general maintenance, such as painting, hedge and grass cutting, tiling, fixing leaks, and changing taps.

Michal explains that they begin each day with a list of assignments, which could entail small jobs to painting someone’s house, which could last a week. He says that they have many returning customers. Michael Lawless adds that the staff get to know the people they do jobs for.

“They’ll ask for us, so we sit down and chat and have a cup of tea with them. That’s more important than anything,” he says.

The staff take the time to make their elderly customers feel listened to and connected.

“We’ll be that way ourselves one day. We were brought up never to be cruel, only to be kind,” adds Michael.

While the LSTEP team provide services to individual homes, there is one part of Portlaoise where they have assumed sole responsibility - the upkeep of The Green in Kilminchy. It is a retirement village comprised of some 60-odd homes. Lawns, gutters and general maintenance work is looked after by a three-man team.

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Team leader is Jim Lawless, who has been with LSTEP for 11 years, ably assisted by Leon Dollard and Callum Hennessy.
While the team mostly stick to the assignments they are contracted to do, Jim says that they have no problem helping someone out with any additional tasks that can safely be performed.

Befitting the ethos of LSTEP, which is not just focused on carrying out home maintenance but helping elderly people live independently, Jim says that the workers have developed a bond with the residents.

“You get to know the people, and they make you cups of tea. Most of them like to chat, because some of them don’t have anyone coming in and out to them. Sometimes, you could be chatting to them for 20 minutes, and that’s more important than the maintenance,” he says.

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He adds that there is a sense of peace and contentment to be derived from working in such relaxed surroundings.

Laois Partnership says that with the aging population of the county growing, the demand for the services provided by LSTEP is sure to continue to increase.

The Leader company says the services are available to anyone aged 65 and over.

Contact Laois Partnership Company on 05786 82779 or stepp@laoispartnership.ie for more information.