By Mairead Tully | Fundraising Executive
On behalf of Irish Hospice Foundation, I am writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for supporting our Nurses for Night Care service.
The donations from GlobalGiving have helped provide expert nursing care to those with conditions such as dementia, motor neurone disease and heart failure. Through the dedication of our compassionate nurses, individuals and their families receive vital support and reassurance during what can be an incredibly challenging time.
Since the service was established in 2006, our nurses have cared for more than 7,000 people. Each year we see an increase in demand and in 2023, we provided 2,920 nights of care to 1000 people. This service operates every night of the year in every county in Ireland.
Voluntary donations play a crucial role in enabling us to deliver this expert nursing care to those who need it. One family that availed of this service was sisters Bridie and Barbara. Nurse Ann Marie was with them during Bridies final nights. Annemarie’ presence brought untold comfort and relief in the sisters final nights together allowing them to stay together to the end..
‘They lived together their whole lives. They adored each other…They’ve had a whole life together, I’m just coming in for the final few nights… I never forget that.’
Ann Marie spoke about how Barbara had been caring for her sister and was too worried to sleep in case something happened at night. ‘I said to her… why don’t you sleep beside your sister there. I’ll be around to make sure she’s alright, I promise.’
That was their final night together, Bridie died the next evening in her own home. Barbara found comfort in at having slept beside her Bridie on her final night just like when they were children. Given the choice, most of us would choose to spend our final days at home, in familiar surroundings with loved ones. Your donation is helping us to make this possible for more people in Ireland.
This year we estimate that the cost of the service will rise to over one million euro. With your support, we can ensure that people facing life-limiting illnesses receive the care and comfort they deserve, allowing them to remain in the familiarity and comfort of their own homes surrounded by loved ones. On behalf of these families, we thank you greatly.
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