Four local men recently took part in a sponsored head shave to raise over €2,000 for Aras Mhuire Community Nursing Unit in Tuam.
Andrew Furey of Corofin and formerly of Dublin Road, Tuam was inspired to raise funds for Aras Mhuire after his friend Billy Tierney received palliative care at the unit earlier this year.
Billy sadly passed away on 22 January, but Andrew and his three friends wanted to acknowledge the care and attention that Billy was given whilst a patient in the Cuan Aoibhinn Palliative Care suite. The other three men who had their heads shaved were Anthony Simo-Leifi, Annaghdown, who also fundraised in memory of his father Vea who passed away last year, Des McDonagh and Mata Fifita.
At the presentation of the cheque for €2,100, Andrew said: “Billy was very well looked after while he was a palliative patient in Aras Mhuire. We wanted to do something meaningful in his memory, and he would be pleased that we raised this money for the unit. We’d like to thank all the nurses and staff who helped make his time here more comfortable. We’d also like to thank everyone who supported us in raising over €2,000 when we did the head shave in Rafterys in Corofin.”
Julie Silke, Director of Nursing, accepted the cheque on behalf of Aras Mhuire. “We are really appreciative of this generous gesture and we will ensure that we put this donation to good use to improve the quality of life of our residents and our palliative and day care patients. Cuan Aoibhinn at Aras Mhuire consists of a two bed two palliative care suite. Both en-suite rooms are well equipped, and are bright and spacious with a sliding door providing access to a beautiful landscaped garden. There is also a family kitchenette, which includes a sofa bed to accommodate overnight stays, if required.”
Julie continued to say that Aras Mhuire is open for admissions for older persons who require palliative care, respite or long term care.
“We’re delighted to have a strong team of nurses, and health care assistants with all of them having completed advanced courses in Older Persons and/or Palliative Care.
“We are currently in the process of planning a three-bedded extension as an interim plan to meet the needs of older people in the Tuam area, as we have been unable to provide appropriate accommodation for all those seeking admission.”
A 50-bedded standalone older person’s service is being planned for 2015 by the HSE, in the adjacent site to the Bons. This would include a stand-alone day care facility for active older persons, six pallative care rooms, a dementia specific unit and all single en-suite on-going care rooms.
Aras Mhuire also provides a day care service for older people and is currently operating this service from Monday to Thursday, with plans to operate on Fridays from July. There is also currently availability for long stay beds at the facility, and members of the public can contact Julie Silke-Daly if then would like more information or to visit the unit. Any older person who wishes to avail of day care services can contact either Caroline Coen, Person in Charge, or Maura Mullen, Clinical Manager, on 093-24655.
Photo Caption:
Pictured at the cheque presentation at Aras Mhuire Community Nursing Unit in Tuam are:
Back row, left to right: Nora Costello, Healthcare Assistant; Gretta Lee, Staff Nurse; Frances Ryan, Staff Nurse, Julie Silke-Daly, Director of Nursing and Caroline Coen, Person in Charge
Middle row, left to right: Nora Quirke, Paddy Rainey, Vera Fallon, Roger Hughes and Elisabeth Connell, all residents at Aras Mhuire
Front row: Anthony Simo-Leifi and Andrew Furey, fundraisers
