WATCH: Milford Care Centre named Limerick Persons of the Month

MILFORD Care Centre have been named the Limerick Persons of the Month for their incredible work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Milford Care Centre provides specialist palliative care services and older persons services in the Mid-West.

Mary O'Brien, CEO of the centre and Sr Brigid Finucane, Little Company of Mary accepted the award at a special presentation at the Clayton Hotel in Limerick city.

Speaking at the presentation, Ms O’Brien said they were delighted to be there to receive the award on behalf of the centre.

“We are absolutely honoured and privileged to receive this award. We are really privileged to be a part of people’s journey and to be there for them when they need us most.

“Milford Care Centre has been heavily reliant on fundraising to support the services over the years so it is really a service that has been built by the community, for the community.

“To get this award and recognition by the people of Limerick, we are absolutely thrilled.”

Sr Brigid Finucane, who worked at the original hospice in Milford which opened in 1977, said the centre was very much a part of the old Limerick and the new.

“It means an awful lot to people because they have so many memories and so many connections to it.”

In 1928, the Little Company of Mary established a nursing home at the Georgian Milford House in Castletroy.

In 1977, LCM Sisters provided nine hospice beds at the house which at that time was a radical approach to caring for the needs of people with life-limiting illness.

One of these pioneering sisters was Sr Finucane and in 1983 the first standalone hospice was built at Milford.

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In 1998, Milford Care Centre became a Company Limited by Guarantee, with the appointment of a Board of Directors.

Now, as then, the Sisters remain actively involved in the governance of the centre.

In 1999 a 77 bed unit opened with 30 beds for those with a palliative care diagnosis and 47 beds for the nursing home.

In 2000, a day care centre was introduced and the first consultant in palliative medicine was appointed.

In 2003, the Hospice at Home service was expanded and continued to grow with a consultant-led multi-disciplinary team now in place.

A second consultant in palliative medicine was appointed in late 2005.

In 2007 the centre was accredited by the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board and was the first facility to be accredited for both palliative care and nursing home care.

Building work took place from 2007 to 2009 and accommodation was provided for the medical, Hospice at Home and education, research and professional development services, assessment and treatment facilities and additional day care space.

In 2010 further development funding was made available by the HSE which, among other things, allowed the day care centres to extend their operations.

Today, older persons day care runs five days a week and palliative day care opened for a third day. A third consultant in palliative medicine was appointed in August 2011.

The Limerick Person of the Month award is sponsored by the Limerick Leader, media agency Southern, and the Clayton Hotel.