Nursing care: A new development with the concept of caring for older people by providing a broad range of facilities at the one location is due to open this summer in Co Meath.
The 60-bed nursing care facility, which will serve the eastern region, is to provide convalescence, short stay and residential care. Located near Ashbourne, it will also contain an independent retirement apartment complex and a large medical clinic.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Mr Ivor Callely, has paid tribute to the concept being developed at Kilbrew Demesne.
"The intention of the Kilbrew Demesne project, to provide variation in the type and size of the bungalows and apartments around a core activity centre, is innovative and demonstrates the understanding the team has of the independence of the individual," Mr Callely said at a recent announcement of details of the project.
Kilbrew Demesne is to open in July at Curraghan, three miles from Ashbourne. It involves the conversion and refurbishment of Kilbrew House together with the reconstruction of adjoining outbuildings to form a courtyard development of apartments, a number of which will be available as retirement accommodation in August. When complete, the facility will employ 40 people.
Phase two includes the construction of the Ashbourne Clinic and further accommodation for independent living. The clinic will have a medical centre with 16 consultant suites as well as a day surgery centre providing a comprehensive range of daycare and diagnostic procedures.
The directors of the facility are architect Fran Whelan of Whelan, Corcoran, Smith Architects; property consultant and developer Ian Counihan; and well-known hotelier Ivan Keeling.
Mr Callely said meeting the need for sheltered accommodation for active older people or those in need of continuing assistance was an important goal for the Department of Health.
