The Independent Living Service based in Bailis was set up in 2008. It is a progressive bespoke model which provides a person-centred, innovative response to the housing needs of adults with disabilities. For the last 17 years, the management, staff and service users have collaboratively developed and advanced the service. Now, it’s shortlisting in the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards highlights how the service has reached the gold level standard of independent living for people with disability. While there is a lack of suitable independent living accommodation across Ireland, the Bailis model, and it’s success to date, provides an exemplary model showing what can be done.

Anelle Marynowski, Director of Services, Enable Ireland, said:
“We are over the moon to be shortlisted in the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards. This gives us the opportunity to promote and showcase the Bailis model of independent living. We want to demonstrate that people with disabilities can live independently and be recognised for the gifts and talents they bring to the communities in which they will live. The success of this model of service has had a monumental impact on the lives of the adults living there and their families and we are delighted it is getting this recognition.”

The Independent Living Service consists of four service user apartments. These are scattered in various locations within the Bailis apartment block. Enable Ireland provides care supports to each resident and the apartments are all fully wheelchair accessible and automated to ensure maximum independence using assistive technologies. There is also an Enable Ireland owned ‘staff apartment’ which is the base for staff and the hub from which the service users support is coordinated. Each service user has an assigned number of hours per week funded by the HSE plus access to 24 hour on-call support staff who are trained to meet the service owner’s specific needs.

At the centre of the Bailis Independent Living model is a focus on integration into the diverse local community in Johnstown. The service users are active and visible in their local community, whether it be in the local cafes, shops or on the bus network. For example, the residents were engaged by Bus Eireann to train their drivers on ‘supporting wheelchair users’ on the local bus fleet. The service users are valued neighbours, committee members, educators, and customers of the local shops, restaurants, gyms, pools, pharmacy, transport companies and more.

One of the Bailis service users said:
“I am so grateful to have my own front door and to be able to come and go as I please. Having Enable Ireland on call 24/7 all year round is such a comfort to me”

Founded in 1948, Enable Ireland provides services for 13,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families in 14 counties. 

The winner of the ‘Public Homecare/Assisted Living Provider’ category in the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards will be announced on the 23rd of May 2025 at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin.