New facility for dementia sufferers to be built in Monkstown

The purpose-built unit is set to replace Moylinney elderly mentally infirm (EMI) facility in Monkstown, which provides residential care for older people with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other associated mental health conditions that come with old age.

As reported in last week’s Newtownabbey Times, the Trust has described Moylinney as not being fit for purpose and has earmarked the unit for closure.

The replacement facility, which is to be located at the current Moylinney site, will cater for 24 people with dementia in the Newtownabbey area.

A Trust spokesperson told the Times: “The new scheme will be designed specifically to meet the needs of people living with dementia supported by best practice.

“It follows a similar successful model in Coleraine, Brook House, which was developed by the Trust for people with dementia replacing an elderly mentally infirm home in that area.

“The new unit will combine all the advantages of living in your own home with the benefits of access to on-site specialist support and care.

“It also provides an environment that promotes privacy and dignity, can enable couples to remain together and allows families to visit and stay.

“The Trust has committed to ensuring that service users and their families are involved in each stage of the process and that the design of the scheme reflects best practice in dementia care.

“We are working in partnership with a Housing Association and the Dementia Development Centre to develop the new scheme.”

Moylinney EMI unit is the last of its kind in the Trust’s area.

According to the Trust, the time frame for the closure of the facility, and the construction of the new unit, will be determined by the needs of those people who currently live there.

There are currently three permanent residents living at the facility and a number of people are there on a respite basis.