‘Person-centred' approach working well at Cluain Farm

Nestled in a peaceful rural setting just outside Kinnegad, close to the Meath border, Cluain Farm may not be on many people’s radar but for the seven people who live there it is the centre of their world.

A residential facility for adults with autism, it was a hive of activity when the Westmeath Examiner paid a visit last Tuesday for a special event to mark World Autism Day.

Following a festive lunch, residents, their family members and staff released balloons to mark the day, which is now in its 12th year and is celebrated at hundreds of thousands of events all over the world.

For Mary Maguire from Enfield, whose 39-year-old daughter Aoife has lived in Cluain Farm for nine years, the coverage that World Autism Day is given is a reflection of how far society has moved in recent decades in its understanding of the condition.

“When she was diagnosed when she was four or five, autism was a word that no one knew anything about then. She was diagnosed as hyperactive. It’s only in recent years that people know anything about it, but now, because there are a lot of people with autism in the schools, it’s more recognisable,” she said.

Aoife has lived in Cluain Farm for nine years and is very settled, her mother says. For a parent whose adult child has special needs, knowing that they will be looked after in the years ahead is hugely important.

“She is as happy, this is her home now. But sure aqua aerobics, swimming, pony riding, cycling, facials – she wouldn’t get it if she was at home,” Mary laughed.

“It’s appropriate that she is with her own age group. You know when you come in they are very happy, the atmosphere here is very good. This will be her home for her lifetime, probably.

Kieran Gallagher from Dunshaughlin is Cluain Farm’s resident photographer. The 37-year-old has called the Westmeath countryside home for the best part of a decade and is very content living in Cluain Farm, his father John says.

“This is his home now. He comes home every second weekend to us but he will tell you himself that this is his home.”
Most adult members of the autism community were diagnosed much later than children born with the condition today. While early intervention is important, the necessary supports have to be put in place and this isn’t always the case, John says.

“Kieran’s generation, they tended to diagnose them very late – which was a disadvantage. Now they are being diagnosed earlier but unfortunately there are no services for them.
“Kieran was very lucky to get in here when he did. We had to fight for it. He’s happy out and this is for life.”

Cluain Farm opened a new chapter last year when Positive Futures took over the service provision and from the easy way in which residents, their family members and staff interact, it appears to be a happy place to both live and work.

Service manager Richard Williams says that Positive Futures take a “person-centred” approach to the care of the residents at Cluain Farm and its other facilities and this has positive impact on their wellbeing and mental health. It is important that the residents of Cluain Farm and other similar facilities integrate with the wider community whenever possible, he believes.

“Their daily routine would consist of lots of different activities. They do arts and crafts, they go swimming, they go to the gym, they do woodwork, they do horse riding, they would do massage therapy. We try and get them out for other bits and bobs to fill up their week. They are fairly active. They like to get out and about,” he said.

While there have been significant advances in how society treats people with special needs, Richard says that events such as World Autism Day are still important to raise awareness in the wider community.

“If you think about 30 years ago people with autism were dumped into an institution somewhere and left till the year dot. Research has shown us that with early intervention and when enough support is put in place, they can be functioning members of society the same as everybody else.

“It’s about putting the right supports in place and treating people equally. I suppose it’s about making the wider community aware that they do have a place in society and that social integration is very important.

“The idea of the day is to bring awareness to people that it touches people everywhere, it doesn’t discriminate. It’s not from certain areas or upbringings. It affects every part of the community,” he said.

World Autism Day is part of World Autism Month which takes place throughout April.