Kerry Respite Care Looks to the Future

Kerry Respite Care along with the support of the Minister for Children, Equality and Disability, Norma Foley T.D. has today launched an exciting strategic plan that is seen as a significant milestone for the charity organisation. The strategy which covers the next three years will allow the home care service to expand and enhance its services to people who wish to stay independently in their own home throughout Kerry. Those currently using the service range from children with special needs to people affected by illness, Dementia, Stroke, Cancer and other needs.

Kerry Respite Care was established in 2002 under the old Social Economy Programme funded through Fás with the aim of providing subsidised quality support in the home to people living alone, people with disabilities and family carers of elderly relatives and children with special needs. Since its inception Kerry Respite Care has grown substantially and now employs a team of over ninety people who offer a non-medical service 24 hours a day, seven days a week including an emergency out of hours service. The registered charity is supported by Pobal through the Community Services Programme and donations which allows it to stay affordable for service users.

Speaking at the strategy launch Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Kerry TD Norma Foley stated:

“I am pleased to be here today to launch the new strategic plan for Kerry Respite Care. As Minister for Children, Equality and Disability, I am very conscious of the importance of the home support that that organisations like Kerry Respite Care provide for people and their families. We have a growing population that will need more support to continue to be able to live independently at home.

I want to pay tribute to all the dedicated staff of Kerry Respite Care, including the healthcare assistants who are at the heart of the organisation.

This strategic plan will guide Kerry Respite Care in the years ahead.”

On behalf of the board of directors for Kerry Respite Care, board member Marie Moloney said:

“We are delighted to welcome Minister Norma Foley who is here today to help us launch our new strategy. This strategy is based on the ideas and vision of those who use our services, our employees and our voluntary board. Our commitment to the people we support is central to what we do. Kerry Respite Care embraces the right of all persons regardless of type or extent of disability, age or illness to live in their own home in their chosen community. Their success is our success and supporting them is our reason for being.”

At the launch attendees heard that the strategy for Kerry Respite Care shows the commitment of all involved to develop the organisation over the coming years. There is a focus on four key areas of development including, Enhancing Service Quality, Expanding the Service Offering, Promoting the Kerry Respite Care Brand and Embracing Innovation.

Kerry Respite Care Manager Lorraine Gordon told invited guests:

”Events such as this give us an opportunity to remind the community that we serve, how important our work is to those who rely on our services. The office team and our many Health Care Assistants are a dedicated, friendly and compassionate team who are at the heart of what we do. I would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank and acknowledge some of our wonderful service users that attended and to all those who spoke today. “

For more information or images please contact Lorraine Gordon, Manager of Kerry Respite Care on 066 7102796 or 0832088386. Alternatively Email: manager@kerryrespitecare.ie