Dublin’s Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne and the Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, Máire Hoctor TD will officially open Fold Ireland’s latest scheme Anam Cara Housing-With-Care on St. Canice’s Rd, Glasnevin at 10 am on Friday 27th March. This innovative project combines accommodation, health care and support services for older people, enabling them to live independently in a secure environment that meets their needs.

The project is a collaboration between Dublin City Council, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the voluntary housing organisation, Fold Ireland. The project is a departure from traditional residential and nursing care provisions, and shows how Statutory and Voluntary Bodies can combine to provide supported housing and assistance to those that are no longer able to stay in their own homes, but equally, do not require nursing care.

Anam Cara operates on the ‘Housing-with-Care’ model of accommodation which ensures that older people and people with dementia are given the opportunity to continue to live independent lifestyles within a safe, secure, supportive and caring environment.

Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne commented, “As the name suggests Anam Cara is a concrete way of expressing how we cherish those we care for in our society. It gives me great pleasure to officially open the Anam Cara Housing-with-Care facility. This complex will allow older people who have special needs to remain in mainstream accommodation knowing that care will be provided for them if the need arises. It will provide the residents with peace of mind, which in these times is a priceless commodity.”

The Minister for Older People, Máire Hoctor TD, said “The provision of modern, high quality facilities such as those at Anam Cara greatly improve the lives of clients and points the way to developing trends both nationally and internationally in the field of best practice of older persons”.

John McLean, Chief Executive, Fold Ireland said, “We are proud to be working with our partners at this state of the art Housing-with-Care facility. Anam Cara combines the best available care and support services, where residents can enjoy greater independence and peace of mind. Anam Cara provides accommodation for people to live independently but with care and support. We are proud to have partnered with Dublin City Council and the HSE, Dublin North Central on this landmark scheme, which was funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government at a cost of €9.4 million.”

Laverne McGuinness, National Director of Primary, Community and Continuing Care stated “Anam Cara is a fantastic opportunity for the fifty six residents to be able to live independently while also having on hand the additional care and support they require in a modern purpose built but homely environment.”

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For further information contact: Dublin City Council Press Office T:  (01) 222 2170, M:  086 815 0010, E: info@dublincity.ie
Daniel Perry, Fold Housing Association, T:  0044 28 9039 7234, E:  daniel.perry@foldgroup.co.uk  

HSE, Rosaleen Harlin, Area Communications Manager, HSE Dublin North East.
Tel: (046) 9280576/087 8291416 Email: rosaleen.harlin@hse.ie

 Notes to editor:

• Anam Cara is owned and managed by Fold Ireland.
• Dublin City Council, HSE and Fold Ireland agreed on the allocation of Anam Cara’s 56 accommodation units in accordance with the Capital Assistance Scheme for persons in need of housing. All three organisations have agreed a process for allocating future vacancies as they arise.
• All residents receive a personalised care plan, which is assessed and agreed with the resident, their family and relevant health professionals.
• The 56 accommodation units are made up of 28 units for older people suffering from dementia and 28 for frail older people.
• Residents at Anam Cara can be assisted by the most advanced non-obtrusive assistive technology available. Each resident is treated with respect and understanding and each has a personalised structured care plan which is assessed and agreed with the resident, their family and allied professional health colleagues as needed.
• Fold Ireland’s philosophy of promoting independence enables many people who are older, frail and with health problems to maintain a sense of individuality, self worth and dignity. This provides peace of mind for their families and carers. Fold Housing-with-Care schemes are widely recognised as “Centres of Excellence”. They have led the way for the creation of similar facilities by other housing providers throughout Europe.
• The day care services based in Anam Cara is a HSE run nurse led service that was previously situated in the adjacent Seanchara building.  The day centre is a purpose built centre which aims to provide a quality holistic service to frail elderly in partnership with other health care professionals. The philosophy of care is based on recognising each clients potential and to anticipate changing needs in order to maintain them at home for as long as possible.