Minister for Health opens dementia-friendly ward in Monaghan Hospital

Monaghan Hospital is one of only two to have earned Age Friendly status nationwide and today (Thursday) at lunchtime, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, was in town to open the WIllowbridge dementia-friendly ward.

Speaking to the Celt, the Minister commended the hospital on achieving the accolade: “They’re doing it for themselves, working with Age Friendly Ireland and different action groups.”

Observing that this country has one of the highest life expectancies in Europe, the Minister added: “We've just opened the beautiful Willowbridge dementia-friendly ward. We have a growing population in Ireland and one that's ageing well. That's a really positive thing for any State. It also means that we have to plan how we're going to care for people with extra kindness, recognising there'll be many more of us that age and age well, but with complications.”

The Minister for Health commended the hospital on the ground-breaking initiative: “It's wonderful to see Monaghan leading in this age-friendly way. Now every ward that gets redeveloped from here on in is going to be done in that way.”

Speaking in the hospital’s recently developed Remembrance Garden, she complimented the thoughtful design. She pointed out, for example, a picnic table, which only featured three chairs meaning a wheelchair user could also sit at the table with ease.

The Health Minister also noted the different levels of railings, along the ramped footpath, which accommodated everyone in the oasis of calm at the front of the hospital: “That's the kind of consideration and kindness that you love to see given to people and it's fantastic to see Laura and Linda, two brilliant managers in these hospitals, driving that for the people of Monaghan.”

* For full report from the Minister's visit, see next week's print issue.