IWA committed to reaching vulnerable
WITH hundreds of its service users confined to their homes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Wexford branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is carrying out house visits across the county.
The organisation has also set up an emergency response team to continue to reach people with disabilities who may become sick with the coronavirus.
Caroline Lacey, Service Manager, Wexford, 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 committed to reaching the most vulnerable during this very difficult time.’
In addition to helping with vital everyday tasks such as personal care, cooking and household chores, the outreach team are shopping on behalf of service users, collecting prescriptions, providing transport to banks and post offices, helping them to pay online bills and assisting them to apply for welfare payments.
Just as important, they are making social visits to those in isolation where possible, calling for a chat or contacting them on the phone if a home visit is not possible.
And the Wexford team are fully aware of the mental challenges a crisis like this brings for those with physical disabilities.
‘Activities that would usually take place in our community centres are being brought to people’s homes, such as arts and crafts,’ explained Caroline.
‘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.’
However, the IWA has, like so many others, been hit where it hurts by the coronavirus, and been forced to postpone its nationwide fundraising activities and close its network of charity shops.
In addition it has had to lay off staff members temporarily. 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 the IWA needs to raise €2 million over and above our HSE funding to keep our vital services running,’ said Caroline. ‘We’re asking people to make a donation, if they can afford to.’