Coming to stay somewhere new can feel like a big step, so we make the first visit to Montbretia House an easy one. Nobody arrives for an overnight stay without having seen the place first, met a member of the team, and had every question answered.
An introduction before you stay
Before your first overnight stay, we invite you to the centre for a meet and greet. We usually arrange this when our other guests are out and about, so that everyone’s privacy is respected and you have the place to yourself.
You will be shown around by a member of the team: the bedrooms, the dining room, the lounge, the food pantry, the laundry room and the garden. The idea is simple — by the time you come to stay, you already know where everything is and how to use it.
Choosing your room
We have six bedrooms, all en-suite, named after trees that grow here in West Kerry: Hazel, Elm, Ash, Beech, Oak and Willow. The Willow Room also has its own kitchen and private living room.
You choose the room that suits you, and when you come back for another stay you can ask for the same room again if it is free. Small things like that are what make a place feel familiar rather than institutional.
Your plan, in your words
On the day you arrive, you and a member of staff go through your person-centred plan together. It covers what matters to you: when you like to get up and go to bed, what you like to eat, the support you want with personal care, and what you would like to do during the week.
Because you lead the service, that plan is the timetable our team works to. It is reviewed with you at every visit, and you can change any part of it at any time.
Meeting the others
A maximum of six people share the experience at any one time. At the start of each week, everyone staying sits down with a social care assistant to talk about what they would like to do. If a few people fancy the same outing, a group plan is made for the week. If you would rather do your own thing, that is equally fine.
Any questions before you come?
Our Resident’s Guide sets out everything in detail, from meals and medication to visitors and transport. If you would prefer to talk it through with a person, ring us on (066) 912 9000 or send us a message and we will call you back.
Read more about respite for adults with disabilities.
