THE new owners of the Áras Uí Dhomhnaill Nursing Home in Milford this week urged the Minister for Health to urgently clarify the situation on the Fair Deal for older people.
Mr Philip O’Donnell and his wife Anne (nee McGilloway), who manage the Lake House Nursing Home in Portnablagh, have shown their confidence in the future for the facility and purchased it from the receiver.
The state-of-the-art nursing home was built in 2005 and it has 48 single bedrooms, all of which are en-suite. It was opened by former Minister Brian Lenihan.
Áras Uí Dhomhnaill was put into receivership by ACC Bank last year in an effort to secure monies advanced for the development of the facility.
The facility was leased by Mulroy Healthcare Ltd. from the investors who funded its development through a tax break scheme. There were a number of Donegal investors involved.
Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday Mr O’Donnell confirmed they took control of the Milford Nursing Home last Friday.
“We are delighted to have finalised the deal with the receiver and have now bought this very spacious, luxurious nursing home.
Despite the recession the senior citizens of Donegal need to have the option of availing of a facility like this. We believe that people will appreciate a superior service in a well-run, professionally managed home.
“I would urge Minister Reilly to clarify the situation on the Fair Deal for nursing home patients as elderly people and their families are concerned at the uncertainty that has arisen.
“Private nursing homes like Áras Uí Dhomhnaill can provide first-class care at almost half the cost of state run nursing homes. The Fair Deal system was a very positive development in the care of the elderly,” Mr O’Donnell said.
He assured the public and concerned residents who were worried about the Milford facility closing, that under their new ownership they are looking after the 30 current residents and are also accepting new residents as well as clients for respite care.
“We are prepared to assist the government in looking after people for a very competitive price but they need to bring certainty on the capacity of nursing homes and whether or not they will be able to avail of the fair deal package as soon as possible,” he added.
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