The Uisneach Integrated Centre for Healthy Ageing has officially opened in Mullingar, Westmeath
Anne Drury – Age Friendly Ireland Older Persons Council Rep (Westmeath), Dr Siobhán Kennelly – Consultant Geriatrician, Breege Donoghue – General Manager, Mairead Campbell – Director of Nursing
On Thursday 5th June, the HSE Dublin and Midlands officially opened the new Uisneach Integrated Centre for Healthy Ageing, as part of the Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP).
The new Uisneach Centre is situated on the grounds of St Mary's Hospital and directly opposite the Regional Hospital Mullingar. The ICPOP community specialist team, based in the new facility, provide services for older people who have complex care needs. The specialist multidisciplinary intervention helps older people maintain their independence and live well at home.
The team provides a comprehensive geriatric assessment, where members of the team work together to assess and respond to an older person’s needs. The team includes a Senior Physiotherapist, Senior Occupational Therapist and a Clinical Nurse Specialist, under the governance of a Consultant Geriatrician. This provides a “one-stop-shop” for older people with complex care needs.
View video of the Uisneach Integrated Centre for Healthy Ageing
Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands welcomed the opening of the facility stating, “The new Uisneach Centre for Healthy Ageing will support older people to maintain their health, independence, and wellbeing. The team will provide essential holistic and person-centered services to meet the unique needs of each older person referred to the centre.”
Officially opening the Uisneach Integrated Centre for Healthy Ageing, Dr. Donal Fitzsimons, Head of Service for Older Person Services in the Midlands said: “I am delighted to be here today to officially open the Uisneach Centre. The Community Specialist Team based in the Centre will support older people by providing timely access to specialist health services resulting in a coordinated plan and delivery of care, which leads to better health outcomes for older people in the Midlands.”
Dr Siobhán Kennelly, Consultant Geriatrician for Integrated Care Service for Older People Westmeath / Longford said, “This specialist service will build on pathways and services supporting the needs of older people in the Longford Westmeath area focusing on the integration of care between acute hospital and community services for older people.”
The new Uisneach Integrated Centre for Healthy Ageing was officially launched at a conference titled ‘Transforming Ageing and Longer Lives – new horizons in the Midlands and beyond’ in the Bloomfield Hotel on 5th June. The well attended event heard from expert guest speakers in the field of gerontology speaking to the burgeoning research area of healthy ageing. In the afternoon the conference hosted representatives from the Longford Westmeath ‘Living Well’ group which represents a number of other statutory, voluntary and community agencies who support older people to live well at home. Age Friendly Managers from both Westmeath & Longford Local Authorities attended the event. Voluntary and community groups are integral to the working of the Uisneach Centre, ensuring independence, inclusion, and the older person is central to Integrated Care for Older People (ICPOP) in Longford/Westmeath.
Dr Siobhán Kennelly – Consultant Geriatrician, Eunice Emenike – Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mary Owens – Senior Physiotherapist, Aisling Reynolds – Senior Occupational Therapist
Kitty Hughes - Age Friendly Ireland Older Persons Council Rep (Westmeath), Dr Donal Fitzsimmons – Head of Service, Dr Siobhán Kennelly – Consultant Geriatrician
