Bluebell, Rose and Lavender Cottages opened
THE newly renovated Cottage Gardens at Peamount Healthcare was opened last week by Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and at the Department of Health, Anne Rabbitte TD.
The facility contains 15 beds within three cottages, Bluebell Cottage, Lavender Cottage and Rose Cottage, and provides specialist intellectual disability care.
Peamount Healthcare provides a comprehensive range of supports to 98 residents both on the campus at Peamount Healthcare and in the community. Many of the residents are ageing and developing complex medical needs. The teams have continued to focus on transforming the lives of residents through innovative and compassionate care.
During 2021 and 2022, although a challenging period for residents and staff, the focus remained in line with the mission, empowering each individual to live full and meaningful lives. Enriching the lives of residents living within the Intellectual Disability (ID) service is the underpinning philosophy of Peamount Healthcare. The team has continued to place the person at the centre of all discussions, and is inclusive of facilitating friendship, family contact, and community engagement.
Hollybank unit was of its time and residents were accommodated in 4 or 6 bedded bays with a total capacity of 23. Over time, the capacity within the unit was reduced to ensure double or single occupancy rooms were provided for the residents.
In 2021 Peamount commenced a refurbishment project of Hollybank to meet the National Standards in Disability. Following consultation and review, this unit was developed as a specialist Intellectual Disability Service to meet the changing needs of high dependent residents as they age. The unit has been redesigned into the three separate cottages, Rose Cottage, Lavender Cottage and Bluebell Cottage. The renovation was completed in May 2022 at a cost of €2.6 million. Every resident has their own room, with accessible bathroom, kitchen and recreation facilities.
Minister Rabbitte said: ‘I am delighted to officially open these three cottages today at Peamount, which will provide vital specialist care to a number of service users, each with their own room refurbished to the highest standards with the service users’ own input. I would like to thank the team at Peamount Healthcare for the dedication to supporting people with disabilities and for having done so at Cottage Gardens in such an inclusive, accessible manner.”
Tanya King, CEO of Peamount, said: ‘We are delighted that with the development of Cottage Gardens, we can ensure that older persons with an intellectual disability who require additional care can receive it in an appropriate environment. Here they can be supported with the full range of services available to the residents in the Older Person’s Residential, also on campus.
The development was funded by HSE Capital Development, HSE Disabilities and Peamount Healthcare. It has achieved 100 per cent compliance with the Regulations for Disability Services and provides a home for ageing residents that is fit for purpose.
This was as a result of the combined efforts of an excellent team from Moloney O’Beirne Architects and Broomfield Construction working on the design, construction and project management in partnership with Peamount Healthcare Teams.
Cottage Gardens provides long term care services to males and females with an intellectual disability and complex medical needs including cognitive impairment, epilepsy, diabetes, autism, dementia, stroke and palliative care needs.
