ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE MOUNT TABOR CARE CENTRE
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE MOUNT TABOR CARE CENTRE MONDAY 11TH MAY, 1998
I would like first of all to thank Rev Desmond Bain for inviting me to perform this official opening – for giving me the opportunity to meet some of the residents and staff of the centre – and to join with you this morning for the ecumenical dedication ceremony.
Some of you may recall that I had the pleasure of attending this year’s Mission Anniversary – where I was presented with a painting of Mount Tabor by Olive Prowse – who is not only a talented artist – but is also the Mission organist. Today’s event gives me a chance to reinforce my links with the Dublin Central Mission – and to meet some familiar faces again.
Great strides have been made in medical research in recent times – and the pace of discovery and development continues to increase. Ironically, it is these advances in medical research and development – advances that have greatly increased life expectancy – that have also given rise to a new ‘problem’ of age-related disease. Nevertheless, there is a high population of elderly people living full active lives – and that vast majority of those leading independent lives.
But the modern family structures – where family members are tending towards greater independence – elderly people – particularly those who are suffering from personal or health difficulties - often find that they are unable to cope adequately on their own.
The Dublin Central Mission – which has been involved in service to the elderly for more than a hundred years – decided to build the Mount Tabor Care Centre - to provide a long term care option for clients of their sheltered housing programmes – giving them a continuity of service – in an ethos with which they are familiar – and keeping that sense of familiarity and security that is so important. I was particularly pleased to see that the new centre incorporates a ‘special needs’ section – geared to meeting the needs of those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimers – offering both respite and long-term nursing care – helping to relieve some of the stress on families who have the double burden of having to provide continuous care – and of seeing a loved one lose their vitality – lose the essence and colour of the character that they have come to know and love – and perhaps to depend on – as the disease gradually takes its hold – and slowly takes them away. I know that that cannot be a light burden to carry – that it can take its own toll on carers and family – that it can at times lead to despair and frustration.
While Reverend Bain announced in 1993 - that it was his intention to have the new facility completed by the end of the century – the target has been well beaten – and the ambition has been realised. As is the case with all projects such as this – it is the result of a great deal of effort and commitment – involving many people working with Reverend Bain and his dedicated staff.
The funding for the project was critical to its success – and I would like to pay tribute to Rowley Morris for his most important work on that difficult task. I would also like to mention the very valuable advice and assistance given by Des Sloyne, Vera Speiran and Seamus Shields. And I know that they would be the first to admit that this project would not have taken off without the widespread support and dedication of all of those involved in the Dublin Central Mission.
I would like to congratulate everyone who has been associated with bring this project to fruition. You can be proud of what you have achieved. I know that you have provided a caring and welcoming place for people to live and be cared for in an atmosphere which respects their dignity and their privacy – in keeping with Methodism’s person-centred ethos.