“Welcoming patients at Oriel House marks a significant achievement - allowing us to deliver integrated care for older people with complex needs while also helping them maintain independence and live well at home,” according to Majella Cunningham, Operational Lead for the HSE Carlow Kilkenny Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons Programme as they opened their doors for the first time in recent weeks.

Based in Loughboy, the state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility spans over 1,014 square meters over two floors and has been designed to the highest standards as a medical and therapy delivery centre.

Since its establishment in 2021, the HSE Carlow Kilkenny Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP) team has provided clinical and therapy services to older adults with complex health needs. The team is working to improve the lives of older persons by offering integrated care and support tailored to their needs and choices.

The ICPOP team accepts referrals from General Practitioners, St Luke’s General Hospital staff (including three Consultant Geriatricians) and the Carlow Kilkenny Pathfinder team. Referrals are triaged daily to ensure timely and efficient service delivery. Clients include older adults over-65 with complex health issues, such as falls, frailty and memory concerns. The ICPOP team also continues to provide services to Carlow-based clients at its satellite clinic in the Sacred Heart Day Hospital in Carlow.

Helen, one of the first patients to avail of services noted how “from the moment I arrived, everything was impressive. The building itself, the kindness of the staff, the cup of tea I was given in the reception and the facilities available for the appointment I had. I would say it will be a boost to a patient to be receiving care and support in such surrounds.”

Majella further explained how “Oriel House gives us space to see more people. Our facilities include Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy assessment areas, treatment rooms with equipment such as ECG and Blood Pressure monitors and a rest-space for our patients. Oriel House also serves as the administrative centre for older persons’ services and the HSE home support services locally. Our ICPOP Team will be expanding services here. We plan to run groups, including ‘strong and steady’ classes, memory stimulation groups and support groups for carers. We will also be linking in with the HSE’s Psychiatry of Later Life and Home Support services.”