Donations flow in for Killaloe home residents

An initiative is underway to secure laptops, smartphones and other technological devices to enable residents confined to their nursing home in Killaloe to communicate with their friends and families.
The drive is being spearheaded by Ballina resident Niamh O' Sullivan who is also planning for the supply of pamper packs for the 44 residents of The Lakes Nursing Home.
"It just started off as a small idea, but I have to say that people have been very good," said Niamh, a former nurse who now works as a primary school teacher.
Niamh said the ideal for the appeal  came about because of the sadness she has witnessed in relation to how older people in nursing homes are currently feeling so isolated due to restrictions imposed to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
"I felt I just had to do something because residents cannot have visitors and they must be feeling so isolated from their families. I just thought it would be nice to try to lift their spirits by giving a pamper pack and a personal card."
Niamh was overwhelmed with the positive reaction she received when she floated the idea to a Whatsapp group of local women - the Free Fresh Air Friday Group - on social media. 
Niamh added: "I got loads of positive responses and people in the area just started donating products for the pamper packs and offered to help in any way they could."
The idea originated when Niamh was posed a challenge from a social media grouping of her own extended family to undertake an act of kindess.
Such has been the reaction that not alone are pamper packs being put together, but now local women are turning up at the nursing home putting flower pots on the outside window sills for residents to enjoy and donating freshly baked products. The personal cards to accompany the packs are being made by local children. 
The appeal went even further with a suggestion from one staff member in the home that technological devices would also come in very useful for residents to communicate with the outside world, including their families and friends.
Over €2,000 has already been raised as a result of the appeal and any funds left over after putting the packs together will be spent on buying technological devices for the residents.
"So if people have old laptops, tablets or smartphones that they are willing to give us we would be glad to take them, and there are lots of companies who may want to contribute," said Niamh.

 

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT
To support the project go the following link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/dmsxrx-tender-loving-care-for-our-elderly?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet