Many of the residents of the Rosalie unit at Áras Naomh Chaolain in Castlerea suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The HSE had placed an embargo on admissions to the unit in September 2016, despite assurances given the previous year. Relatives of residents at the unit have expressed fears the HSE would close it and move residents to Ballinasloe. They are ‘low-hanging fruit’.”Consultant geriatrician at Roscommon County Hospital Gerry O’Meara said he believed the unit was “being closed by stealth.” There was a “big demand for an Alzheimer’s unit,” in Roscommon where about 2,000 people “of all ages” suffered from the disease, he said. A deputation from Roscommon is to meet Minister for Mental Health and Older People Jim Daly at Leinster House on Wednesday.

Source: The Irish Times January 22, 2018 19:18 UTC