"Referral and experience of Cloughreagh House"

I want to tell my story of referral to and experience of Cloughreagh rehabilitation Unit.

I was told in DHH we have a proposition for you. We have a rehab unit attached to Cloughreagh and we would like you to consider going there. It is a Rehab Unit and has nothing to do with the Residential Home. I was told it was my choice whether to go or not but it was emphasised to me that if I didn’t go to the Home I might be sent home to my own house as the hospital bed was needed. I knew I was neither mentally or physically capable of going home as I live on my own and I could not either walk or even move hence I was left with no choice but to go to Cloughreagh.

I was so upset mentally as I am only in my 60s and the thought of going to an Old Peoples Home caused me great distress and anxiety. I was sick to the bottom of my stomach with anxiety throughout the journey to Cloughreagh and on arrival mentally I felt terrible. I am normally a positive outgoing person and I can’t believe that the anxiety made me feel like this.

I think moving forward if DHH staff want people to go to Cloughreagh they need to promote it in an honest way and tell people the proper way of it and explain what it actually entails; that it is a rehabilitation unit and not a residential unit for older people.

On arrival at Cloughreagh the staff were very welcoming but I was so upset I couldn’t either see or appreciate it.

The next morning the physio came to assess me and that was a lightbulb moment for both me and my brother who was visiting at the time.

When she explained the extent of my injury to my spine and I then realised that I needed the help from the staff in Cloughreagh for my healing process to begin. I accepted the journey ahead was not going to be easy but I knew with the understanding and care from the staff I would recover.

Due to the kindness and encouragement from the Cloughreagh and ICS therapists I have progressed beyond all my expectations. I have great admiration for the staff in both Cloughreagh and ICS team for their emotional and physical approach to healing.