Up to 150 families per year will benefit from a new Alzheimer service in the pipeline for Merlin Park Hospital.

Western Alzheimer has got the go-ahead to proceed with a formal planning application to build a respite and day care facility within the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital.

The 20-bed respite facility together with the day care facility, which will cater for an additional 15 people, is expected to open in early 2009.

City Councillor Mary Leahy has welcomed this progress, saying she was pleased to assist in overcoming some preplanning difficulties.

Western Alzheimer was established over ten years ago in 1996 in a three-bed house in Claremorris. Today, they have two established facilities in Ballindine and Athenry, and following a recent donation of a site in Laurencetown Ballinasloe, aim to open a further facility there.

Under charitable status, and relying largely on donations, Western Alzheimer has provided a total of 52,000 hours of care to families in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon this year.

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