Cold Porridge, Broken Promises and a Missing Dog – Notes from Nursing Home Advocacy
Scribe Consulting Services
Richie can’t afford a haircut, Molly is desperately lonely, Alfie is forty-eight and just wants to go home…..
Nursing home residents often have no voice. They fall prey to coercive control and medical paternalism and are frequently deprived of their liberties. During the Covid-19 pandemic they were all but abandoned by the Irish health service, with devastating consequences. Cold Porridge explores how nursing home residents can be empowered to raise their voices and take back control of their lives using advocacy rooted in social justice and pastoral care.
Through rich storytelling that is by turns heart-rending and heart-warming, Tony Carroll explores vital social and medical care issues through a cast of witty and mischievous characters, from the notorious wheelchair gang and the languid lounge ladies to Lydia, a former social welfare officer who’s constantly on the lookout for fraudsters. They all reveal the wisdom, resilience and beauty of old age, as well as the struggles and obstacles they face on a daily basis. As the author accompanies these characters on their journey, he too is transformed by the experience.
With plenty of practical advice on how to support loved ones in care and make visits more meaningful, as well as spiritually enriching reflections, Cold Porridge is an invaluable companion for residents and their families, nursing home staff looking to empower those they care for, and anyone who wants to look behind the curtain and see what really happens in nursing homes.
Profits from sales of this book will be donated to the Irish charity Alone.
PLEASE NOTE: This book is currently out of print. It continues to be available as an eBook and is also available in public and university libraries. Further updates available from [email protected]
€20.00
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Sile Walsh (verified owner) –
Tony Carroll’s Cold Porridge, Broken Promises and a Missing Dog is one of the most informative yet engaging books I’ve read on nursing homes. Carroll does a remarkable job of opening the door to a world I had limited experience with but had insights that didn’t incorporate the complexity of residents’ experiences.
What makes this book stand out is its balance of storytelling and insight. St. George’s Castle Nursing Home’s characters reveal the unique struggles and resilience of people often overlooked.
Carroll’s ability to weave these deeply personal stories into a more prominent call for justice is deeply moving. By grounding his advocacy in social justice and pastoral care, he sheds light on the systemic flaws and offers hope and tangible advice for making a difference. As someone who better understands the lives of nursing home residents, their families, and the demands placed on staff, I’m grateful for the clarity and compassion he brings to this often misunderstood world.
His spiritual and pragmatic reflections feel deeply personal and transformative, not only for the residents but for the readers, too, I found my self asking myself a lot of questions and had to keep putting the book down to think.
This book is highly readable despite the weight of its topics. The storytelling brings warmth and humour to moments that could otherwise be overwhelming, resulting in a book that’s both thought-provoking and accessible.
I highly recommend Cold Porridge, Broken Promises and a Missing Dog to anyone curious about nursing homes, whether you’re visiting a loved one, working in the sector, or simply interested in how we can treat our elders with more respect and dignity.
Tony Carroll’s book is a vital, heart-warming, and informative read that brings humanity and justice to the forefront of elder care. It’s a book that leaves you better informed and deeply moved. Thank you, Tony, for sharing these stories and insights with the world!
Dr Ann Coyle PhD –
This is a must read book for anyone who has experience of Nursing Homes or is curious about what living and working in them is like. Nursing Homes are often portrayed as depressing twilight zones but the author Tony Carroll gets under the bonnet in this engaging, poignant and sometimes personal read that keeps you wanting to learn more about the folk who live in St Georges Castle Nursing Home- their life long interests and achievements and contrary to the popular narrative, their desire to retain their place in the world and help other people.
While the societal challenges of how we treat our aged citizens is not shied away from, Tony has managed to tell this story in a lively and relatable way describing everyday lives lived within communal spaces, often with good humour, fortitude and care for others dispelling myths that care in old age is a one way street.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Its pace never drops nor does the book descend into dry academic finger wagging despite its serous well researched subject matter.