Galway Hospice has been shortlisted for a Charity Impact Award 2021, with the intention of shining a light on its impact and achievements during the difficult year of Covid-19. Galway Hospice provides support and care to people in Galway living with a range of life-limiting illnesses. It strives to help these patients and families live each of life’s moments to the fullest, with the ones who matter most. It is about hope, caring and going the extra mile to make life the best it can be for those who need it.
“We have continued to care throughout the pandemic,” said a spokesperson for the Hospice. “Our team made 6,366 visits and 27,283 calls to patients in the community and cared for 300 Inpatients.
“Our Medical Social Work team developed new ways to support patients and families, including virtual Remembrance Services and a socially distanced Walk and Talk group, where bereaved individuals can meet others and our team in a local woodland.
“Art Therapy developed a project which saw patients, families and staff painting to keep everyone connected and creative during lockdown. Our Community Team put together information packs for nursing homes/ GPs to provide guidance on medications for end of life care.”
“‘Every Moment Matters’ is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that providing specialist palliative care means offering the right care with dignity and compassion to patients and families living with life-limiting illness in their place of choice. Covid-19 has impacted day-to-day life but for patients under the care of our ‘home away from home’ Inpatient Unit, staff continue to ensure their experience is as comfortable as possible.
“For example, we have been facilitating family visits, checking that the radio is tuned to a station they like, placing drawings and pictures from family on our walls and arranging virtual and activity packs for Day Care patients. Galway Hospice has always valued the fact that it is the small moments that can mean the most, this has been especially true in 2020,” the spokesperson said.
Voting is open to the public on the Charity Impact Awards website at www.charityimpactawards.ie under ‘Large Organisations’ now until November 3 2021. The public vote accounts for 25% of the judge’s score. Thank you for supporting Galway Hospice.
