Who We Help

The Meath provides support and a caring home to 70 adults who have complex epilepsy coupled with other disabling problems.

The care and treatment of epilepsy has improved significantly since the Meath opened its doors in 1892. Today, up to 70% of people diagnosed with epilepsy can live a seizure free life with the right medication. Many of the Meath’s original residents would not need to be in our care today.

However, the underlying brain damage or dysfunction that sometimes causes epilepsy can also be responsible for a range of other disabling problems. The Meath has seen significant changes in the severity and number of conditions faced by those entering our care.

The majority of Meath residents have varying degrees of learning disability and many also have a physical disability. A small number of residents also have conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.

This combination of conditions means an independent life out of reach for many. Having a learning disability can make communicating the onset of an epileptic seizure very difficult, and any underlying brain damage can mean seizures are more difficult to control. Many Meath residents experience particularly complex epilepsy that may not be fully controlled by medication, and some residents have more than one type of epilepsy.