Westmeath wheelchair users continue to receive vital services

Irish Wheelchair Association’s frontline workers are delivering vital services to people with physical disabilities in homes in Athlone and Westmeath throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The organisation has also set up an emergency response team to continue to reach people with disabilities, who may become sick with the coronavirus and isolated.

 

Among those who have benefitted from this service is well-known Athlone resident, Tommy Cahill, who is pictured above receiving a very special 74th birthday gift from John Tynan, who is just one of many Irish Wheelchair Association frontline workers across Westmeath. Tommy is very sociable and friendly and loves playing boccia, and spending time with members of his local community in Athlone. Practicing social distancing and having to stay away from his friends at the IWA Community Centre has proved to be very difficult, so John Tynan made a very special effort to visit Tommy Cahill on his birthday and Wheelchair Association frontline workers will continue to keep in close touch with him, and all their local members, during this Covid-19 emergency.

Monica McGowan Hughes, Service Coordinator, Athlone, said: “This is a very worrying time for people who use our services and are dependent on our assistance to allow them to remain living safely in their own homes. Many of them are aware that due to their disability they are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

“Members of our community outreach and assisted living teams are among the many heroic frontline healthcare staff who are courageously committed to reaching the most vulnerable during this very difficult time.

“Our assisted living workers are visiting people’s homes, helping them to live independently and to carry out vital everyday tasks such as personal care, cooking and household chores.

“Our outreach team is providing social support such as shopping, collecting prescriptions, providing transport to banks and post offices, helping people to pay online bills and assisting people to apply for welfare payments as well as calling for a chat both in person and on the phone.

“Activities that would usually take place in our community centres are being brought to people’s homes, such as arts and crafts. We are developing an online physical and mental wellness package, so people can access low-impact exercise classes and mindfulness tools to help people stay well physically and mentally as the crisis takes hold.

 

“The new emergency response team will act as a third layer of support following family and the HSE, if one of our service users has to go into self-isolation."

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Irish Wheelchair Association has been forced to postpone its nationwide fundraising activities and close its network of charity shops. Like many organisations and businesses it has regrettably had to lay off valued staff members temporarily, who have contributed greatly to building its services to where they are today.

The charity supports 4,000 people with physical disabilities every week in Ireland across a spectrum of needs and is now appealing to the public for support.

“Each year Irish Wheelchair Association needs to raise €2million over and above our HSE funding to keep our vital services running,” said Monica McGowan Hughes. “We are aware that it is a difficult time for everyone and we’re asking people to make a donation to support our frontline workers, if they can afford to."

To support Irish Wheelchair Association visit iwa.ie.

For queries about Irish Wheelchair Association’s services call 01 8186400 or email customercare@iwa.ie.