| The Nursing Centre |
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Welcome to ST CAMILLUS NURSING CENTRE Killucan - Co. Westmeath - Ireland
The Nursing Centre, grounds and Chapel We are proud to be a Catholic, Not-For-Profit, facility caring for 57 Older People since 1976 As well as this, we work closely with the North Westmeath Hospice Foundation and offer both Palliative and Respite care for people coming to the end of their life However, members of the religious community have been caring for people in the locality since 1935 Please scroll down our webpage to find out more
If you are considering long or short-term care for either yourself or a relative contact us at (00353) 044-9374196 or
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We are pleased to discuss possible admissions and would be very happy to arrange for you to visit us
USEFUL INFORMATION
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Click here to read our Statement of Purpose THE FAIR DEAL
HOW TO FIND US Click here for the Google Maps reference - We are between Mullingar and Kinnegad, off the N4
H.I.Q.A. We are regulated by the Health Information & Quality Authority - Click here for their website
****************** To mark the Fourth Centenary of the death of St Camillus in 1614 we have been creating a Sensory Peace Garden in the courtyard at the centre of the first part of the Nursing Centre. It contains plants, shrubs, flowers and trees that people can see, feel, smell, hear and taste It provides a safe place to sit and wander and includes an enclosed sitting area where one can be alone to sit and think A new, Irish designed, statue of St Camillus has been created in bronze and takes pride of place in the central sitting area The residents, their loved ones and members of the Camillian Family attended the recent blessing and opening Many people have helped to create the garden including Artist Bob Quinn, Horticulturalist Jodie Murray. Together with Chris Glynn, Paddy Connaughton, Pat Lynam & Paul Wilson
Pictures courtesy of Joe Duffy & Marion MacKenzie ****************************************** MAY, THE MONTH OF OUR LADY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DECORATED THE MAY BUSH AND HONOURED OUR LADY BY SINGING SOME TRADITIONAL AND WELL KNOWN HYMNS
Residents together with their loved ones and friends enjoyed a really enjoyable Christmas Season
The Camillian Lay Family prepared over 15 really super Christmas Hampers for people in need A very big thank you to everyone who contributed
Lillie with some of the Christmas hampers Our residents enjoyed an afternoon of Christmas shopping, thanks to Gildea's Pharmacy. We had a real atmosphere of Christmas with scented candles, Christmas music, tinsel and Christmas baubles Lots of fun was had as the residents, who couldn't get to the shops, found Christmas presents for friends and family We are very grateful to John Gildea, Ruairi, Janet and Brigid for their great help and enthusiasm in making this a terrific event for all of us
Marie and Holly come to see us every week, here they are with Brigid
The Mullingar Lions Club are regular visiters. We are all really grateful for their great afternoons of music and dancing. Here they are presenting the chairperson of the Residents Committee, Carmel, with a donation towards the bingo group
Some of the residents have found hidden talents at the art classes. Here are a few new pictures of the class, preparing for Christmas
Lots of people help to create a home for the residents at St. Camillus Here are a few of them
Olivia and Martina, helping to care for the residents
Fr. Nik helps us in all sorts of ways
Frs. Martin and Baby, we are very fortunate to have daily Mass
Patricia and Anne
Mary & Ann, keeping us neat and tidy
*********** The First of May heralds the first day of Summer! Albeit with a few drops of rain! The residents marked the occasion by continuing the ancient Celtic custom of decorating a Hawthorn Bush
Here are some photographs of Carmel, Fr Frank, May, Brigid, Tess and Josie decorating our May Bush
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Over the past 18 months we have been undertaking a major upgrading project of the Nursing Centre, which is now nearing completion. Providing a new and improved environment for the residents and their loved ones All our bedrooms are now either twin or single, most with an ensuite bathroom. We have new sitting areas too and a large and bright atrium off the front hall as well as a new internal courtyard in which to sit on a sunny day. Here are some pictures of the work we've been doing We asked some of the residents if we could photograph their rooms and they were delighted that they feature on the website
Betty, Annie and Anne
Our new bedrooms are spacious, 18.5 meters sq.
The ensuite bathrooms are fully wheelchair friendly and adapted to people who need a bit of support. They are 6.5 meters sq.
A new sitting area
Josie, Mary and Paddy
The newly completed Front Atrium
Our statue of St. Camillus in the Front Atrium
Mary and Josie
If you would like to make an enquiry about our care, call us on (00353) 044-9374196 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Fr. Stephen Foster, from the North of England and the Provincial Superior of the Anglo-Irish Province, has taken over the role of Registered Provider of the Nursing Centre on behalf of the Order. The Regisrered Provider is the person with overall legal responsibility for the residential service. He takes over from Fr. Frank, who will now concentrate on the Pastoral Care of the residents and staff as well as remaining the Superior of the Killucan Community. Fr. Stephen joins the existing Management Team of Marie Keaney, Administrator, Brother John O'Brien, Director of Nursing and Person in Charge and Yvonne Lynam, Assistant Director of Nursing.
Fr. Stephen Foster,MI
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Mothering Sunday
Here are a some pictures of our day in celebration of the wonderful gift of motherhood and, of course, grandmothers!
We Pray for all Mothers and Grandmothers today: Oh Mary, on this day when we honour all mothers, we turn to you. We thank the Lord for the great gift of motherhood. Never has it been known that anyone who sought your intercession was left unaided. Dear Mother, thank you for your “Yes” to the invitation of the angel which brought heaven to earth. You opened yourself to God’s word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. AMEN Thanks to Marion for the lovely flowers and napkins in the dining room
Pictures used with permission **************************************
As part of our ongoing upgrading, we have been doing a spot of painting and decorating recently Here are a few pictures of our newly decorated dining room
The Rebuschini Room, our second dining room Our menus are planned to suit both the tastes of the resident and their medical needs, such as diabetes. We also work closely with the local Speech and Language Department of the HSE to ensure the safety of residents who may expereince swallowing problems.
Two pictures of the Mass on the occasion of the visit of the Relic of the Heart of St. Camillus Mass is celebrated daily at 10.30am in our chapel. Relatives and friends are very welcome to join us. Sunday Mass brings a congregation of abound 150 people from the local community, we believe this keeps the residents in touch with their friends and neighbours and the local community. Both residents and relatives find the chapel a haven of peace and quiet reflection.
One of our sitting rooms
A place to pause and rest, on the way into the Chapel
Mary and Adrienne, our shop-keepers who offer a mobile shop service to our residents every Thursday
Ann, who offers our residents regular Aromatherapy Sessions
Sue, one of the Palliative Care Nurse Specialists with the North Westmeath Hospice, who regularly visit the Centre At St. Camillus we are fortunate to offer their in-patient care
Our friend "Holly" comes to visit the residents every Friday. Pictures used with permission
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Just before the Heart of St. Camillus came to Killucan the residents decided to plant a tree as a memorial of the event. Pictures of the planting of their tree are further down this page. They have now organised a marble plaque to be placed at the foot of the tree. On a beautiful autumn morning, after Mass, Fr. Frank blessed this plaque. Here are some pictures of the event.
The Plaque at the foot of the tree
Fr. Frank blessing the plaque
Some of our residents
More of our residents at the blessing, well wrapped up against the autumn chill
The Sacred Relic of the Heart of St. Camillus arrived in Killucan on 9th July. Here are some photographs of our celebrations. The Heart arrived in Westmeath from Dublin airport with a Garda escort. About 100 local people came, in the pouring rain, to welcome the heart of our founder. Over the next five days over 25,000 people came to our chapel to venerate the saint. Pictures courtesy of Mr. James Wimms and Mr. Nick Murray
The Relic, in its Neo-Classical reliquary, was moved into the larger Nursing Centre chapel on the morning of 10th July. On 14th July, the Feast Day of St. Camillus, we were honoured to welcome Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, to celebrate the Feast Day Mass, along with many of our neighbouring priests together with a congregation of over 400 people.
Most Rev. Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath
The Reliquary containing the Heart of St. Camillus is one of a pair. They are made of gilded silver, in the Neo-Classical style and were manufactured in the late 18th Century. The matching reliquary contains a piece of bone from one of the saint's legs. Today they are kept either side of the altar in the room at the Mother House of the Order in Rome where he died on July 14th, 1614. They have recently undergone extensive restoration and now look as they did when they were made, over 200 years ago. Here is a picture of the second reliquary containing a bone of St. Camillus
THE PREPARATIONS BEGAN MANY WEEKS BEFORE THE RELIC ARRIVED. MANY PEOPLE PREPARED TO WELCOME THE RELIC OF THE HEART OF SAINT CAMILLUS TO KILLUCAN
Bro. John, Fr. Noel, Bro. Augustine, Bro. Richard, and Fr. Frank in the grounds of the Nursing Centre chapel. The Grounds have been totally renovated over the past few weeks by a team of local people who have been extraordinary in giving their time and industry.
In front of the Nursing Centre minibus, which has been adapted to transport the precious Relic of the Heart of St. Camillus. Here are some images of a few of the many local people who have been so generous with their time and industry
Our residents decided to help prepare of the visit of the Relic too. They decided to plant a tree, which they have chosen, to commemorate the visit of the Relic. Here are some images of the planting ceremony. It will provide a lasting momento of the occasion for many years to come.
******* Here are some more pictures of our Nursing Centre
The Chapel - at the heart of the Nursing Centre
The residents, together with Brigid and Fr. Frank, who helped to restore the Square
Valarie, our Horticulturist, pruning an overgrown Bay tree in the Square
Some of our residents with Senorita Maria, our Spanish visitor, together with Bro. John, Lillie and Paddy
Enjoying the lovely sunshine
Jim Ward, one of our Garden volunteers with Therese and Martha
Nancy Bennett, Nancy Barry and Jim
Some of the group together with Maureen
Miss Elizabeth Cooney with her family
Fr Frank, Betty and the gardening group
Jodie with her team replanting one of the flower beds infront of the Chapel
The front Drive
New planting around the Chapel
The Canal running through our grounds is a 19th century tributary of the Rive Deel
The Community House
The Inner Courtyard
Organising outdoor tables and chairs
Mr Tom Goggarty, enjoy the sunshine
The Front Rose Garden and Patio
Little Pippin with May and Aine who visit our residents every week.
The Courtyard Fountain
Mr Ned McCann who keeps an eye on our goldfish
Paddy Connaughton, always on hand to fix our mistakes!
Breakfast. Lto R: Nancy, Nancy, Truda, Martha
Lillie and Alice
Joan and Catherine - House Keeping
Anne, Mary & Brenda - House Keeping.
Yvonne - Our Assistant Director of Nursing
Annie, keeping body and soul togtether!
Amanda, organising resident menus
Kathleen; the morning medication round
Patty, Janice and Mags
Members of staff presenting a donation from their Social Club Fund for Haiti
We work closely with the North Westmeath Hospice to provide In-Patient Services to people of all ages.
Three members of the North Westmeath Hospice Team: Aoife, Ger & Sue. Click here to access the Hospice Website
Detail of one of the stained glass windows by Geo. Walshe If you would like more information about the care we provide at the Nursing Centre, please contact: St. Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan, Co.Westmeath. Tel: (044) 9374196 |
