Closure threat to pensioner facility in Roscommon like ‘elder abuse’

The threatened closure of a facility catering for pensioners with mental health problems is tantamount to elder abuse, according to one of the most prominent GPs in the country.

Greg Kelly, former chairman of the Western Health Board and medical officer at Castlerea Prison, has expressed his concern over the future of the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

A psycho-geriatric unit catering for up to 25 long-term residents, Rosalie was to be developed by the HSE as a specialist dementia and Alzheimer’s facility.

However, staff began contacting public representatives last week over strong indications that the unit is due for closure.

A statement by the HSE said clients had recently been assessed and over the coming weeks and months the HSE will be working with them and their families to develop plans that would “improve their quality of life and help them reach their full potential”.

However, Dr Kelly said there is growing concern that the HSE plans to transfer residents to general nursing home facilities. He insists that this is not in the patients’ best interests.

“I am very upset with what they are attempting to do with these patients and also at the fact that they are being dishonest in the presentation they are giving to the general public and in the explanations they are giving.

“What is being done to these patients is tantamount to elder abuse. These are elderly people, many of whom have been long-term psychiatric patients and also Alzheimer’s patients,” Dr Kelly said.

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