New €660,000 extension to Western Alzheimer's centre opens

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, has officially opened the extension to the Western Alzheimers Marian Respite Home in Ballindine.

This construction sees the addition of five en-suite single bedrooms, refurbishment and reconfiguration of existing bedrooms to include an activity room, storage and office space.

This cost of this development was in the region of €660,000, €300,000 of which was secured from the HSE with the remainder collected through fundraising.

The CEO of the Western Alzheime's Association, former Mayo senior football manager Pat Holmes, welcomed the large crowd to the official opening and extended a warm welcome to Minister Ring, Pat McHugh, chairman of the board of directors of the Western Alzheimer's Association, and Fr. O'Connor, P.P., Ballindine/Irishtown, who performed the blessing.

Minister Ring, before he opened the new facility, paid tribute to all involved with the Western Alzheimer's Foundation, where the services they provide today aree truly magnificent.

“Today they are over 55,000 people in the country suffering with Alzheimers, of which 5,500 are from the Mayo, Galway and Roscommon areas. This is an increasing problem and the present figures for this disease are set to grown massively in the coming years,” stated Minister Ring.

“I thank everyone associated with the Western Alzheimer's Association for the wonderful work they are doing and for the respite they give so many families who are dealing with loved ones with dementia.

“I am delighted to have helped get funding for this major project and will continue to seek funding for these much needed facilities. I know planning permission has been secured for additional construction here and when the application for funding comes in I will be giving my full support.”