Kerry Cheshire
Contact Details
| Manager: | Karen O’Donoghue |
|---|---|
| Acting Manager | Paul Foster |
| Address: | St. Margaret’s Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry |
| Tel: | 064 66 35606 |
| Fax: | 064 66 35693 |
| Email: | karen.odonoghue@cheshire.ie / paul.foster@cheshire.ie |
About
The purpose-built Kerry Cheshire was opened in 1996 with funding from the Southern Health Board and tremendous support from local communities throughout Kerry. The 11 modern, self-contained apartments that make up Kerry Cheshire are located on the outskirts of the bustling town of Killarney, with all its local and tourist amenities. The train station and airport are close by and there are several wheelchair-accessible taxis available in the town. The centre's communal building provides additional facilities and activities for all service users.
Facilities
- 11 self-contained apartments - 7 of these are single, with an open-plan design accommodating a sleeping area, living/kitchen area and toilet/shower; the other 4 are double apartments, with 2 separate bedrooms, an open-plan dining/kitchen area and a bathroom
- Support services include daily cleaning of the apartments, prepared and cooked meals served and assistance as required with any domestic tasks and laundry.
- Kerry Cheshire's communal areas offer a large open-plan space, which can be used for social and recreational activities by all users, as well as a large kitchen.
Services Available
- 24-hour care and support available from trained staff.
- Respite care is available in 3 self-contained apartments on a year-round basis for planned or emergency respite. Since each apartment has 2 bedrooms, a family member or carer can also stay if desired.
- All services and activities provided in Kerry Cheshire are available to respite users during their stay.
- Kerry Cheshire's minibus facilitates users in getting to work, training sessions and community activities. Service users can avail of the public health nurse if required.
- Full-time night staff are available to assist service users in, for example, preparing for bed, as well as for security and emergency situations.
- Treatments can be organised for service users, including regular chiropody sessions, while manicurists, hairdressers and beauticians are available on request.
Community Links
- Well-established links exist with other local service providers, including Enable Ireland, ABLE, Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), Kerry Parents and Friends, Headway and the Centre for Independent Living (CIL).
- Through these local links, service users at Kerry Cheshire get involved in day centres, training and work programmes, as well as social activities.
- Killarney Town Council Disabilities Subcommittee meet regularly in Kerry Cheshire.
- Kerry Cheshire staff and service users also meet regularly to discuss issues concerning the centre.
- The IWA provides personal assistants for Kerry Cheshire's service users to facilitate them in getting to social activities and shopping.
- Other organisations can use the Kerry Cheshire's minibus in conjunction with its service users.
All Cheshire services, in Ireland and worldwide, aspire to operate in keeping with the Cheshire ethos and in line with today’s standards for rights-based disability services. In particular, Cheshire services aim to listen carefully to people with disabilities and to try to meet the expectations of people using our services.
