TUHF invest over €7m in Ageing Well Centre
AN INVESTMENT of over €7 million has this week been announced for the development of a Tallaght University Hospital Ageing Well Centre in Clondalkin village.
On Tuesday, the Tallaght University Hospital Foundation (TUHF) unveiled its plans to invest €7.6m in a new community-orientated centre that aims to pave the way for healthy ageing in Clondalkin.
The centre will be based in the former Presentation Convent on New Road, Clondalkin, the grounds of which are also home to Bartra Healthcare’s newly developed 150-bed nursing and retirement facility.
Bartra Healthcare is collaborating with TUHF in the delivery of the centre, which, staffed by Tallaght University Hospital employees, will provide clinical and social care to people in the area.
The clinical care focus will be on supporting people to improve their brain and bone health, reduce risk of falls and help build physical resilience – all with the aim of keeping people well in their own homes and communities.
According to Professor Sean Kennelly, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, the centre’s ambulatory hub will house “state-of-the-art gerontological care outpatient suites and an exercise/rehabilitation gym area under the governance of the TUH Department of Age-Related Health”.
The centre will be staffed by TUH employees, including doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, social workers, dieticians, and psychologists.
Professor Kennelly described it as an “ambitious project” to develop a centre that equips people with everything they need to age well – including a social hub.
“The centre will also have a social hub comprising a volunteer cafe and an activities hub for music, art, and social gatherings”, Prof Kennelly said.
“Our focus will be on blending strategies that enhance living well with interventions to promote physical and mental health.
“The emphasis is to ensure that all an individual’s care needs – physical, mental, cognitive, and social – can be met in a warm and welcoming environment under one roof, in the heart of their local community in Clondalkin.”
Lucy Nugent, CEO of TUH, also spoke of how the new centre will support people in accessing clinical and social care closer to home.
“Thanks to the partnership with TUHF and Bartra Healthcare, TUH will be able to provide a community-based centre where older people from Clondalkin will be able to access clinical and social care closer to their homes and families in a truly holistic environment”, Ms Nugent said.
“It is fully aligned with the objectives of the hospital’s five-year strategic plan and Sláintecare, with the convent having been identified as the ideal location due to its central position within Clondalkin.
“We are incredibly grateful to TUHF, Bartra Healthcare and their donors for this transformative investment.”
She added: “A community-based ageing well centre will greatly help with early patient assessment, support hospital avoidance, and reduce the risk of patients presenting to the ED for crisis management.
“The aim is to shift from unplanned care approach to a person-centred, planned and coordinated approach.”
The announcement reflects TUH’s vision for improved services and infrastructure that extends beyond the hospital walls – making comprehensive healthcare easily accessible within communities.
Doughlas Collins, CEO of TUHF, highlighted the ‘tangible’ benefits of the new centre for the community.
“This substantial investment by TUHF aims to bring about positive and tangible benefits to the community, providing access to the right care, integrated services, specialist consultations, and support for individuals to live well in their own homes and communities”, Mr Collins said.
“We want to acknowledge and thank Bartra Healthcare and our donors for their continued support for our vision.”
