Knocknagoshel meals on wheels a ‘lifeline’ for the elderly of its territory
YOUNG families are even contacting meals on wheels services now in rural Kerry as more and more go into voluntary lockdown in the face of COVID-19.
One such rural service working round the clock to keep its elderly clients safe is the Knocknagoshel Meals on Wheels, run under the auspices of the Knocknagoshel Over-55s Social Club.
Now, the service is calling for emergency funding, anticipating as it does a doubling in demand in the coming weeks as more lock down.
“That’s what we’re looking at now, and for the next few weeks it is going to be an absolute lifeline for so many,” Chairperson of the Club Catherine Lenihan told The Kerryman.
“We have to keep the old people in their homes to keep them safe as they are the ones most at risk.
“The elderly are becoming more afraid and a lot of them want to know about safety when coming to the door to us. So we explain our protocols that are in place to maintain their safety.
“The protocols involve our constant vigilance over our own hygiene in terms of washing hands regularly. And we explain to them that when we come to the door we will place the food down and maintain a safe distance from them with no physical contact at all,” Catherine said. “We currently service a pretty large area that takes in Knocknagoshel, Lyreacrompane, Duagh, Abbeyfeale, Brosna, Cordal and parts of Castleisland.”
But as demand ramps up ,the service will come under a lot of pressure. “It’s the funding is the big thing, we will need more money from next month to answer the demand.
“We will also need more staff and volunteers to increase the supply. Knocknagoshel GAA has volunteered its services, which is fantastic, but you have to be careful with volunteers too to ensure none have just returned from overseas.”
Seventeen part-time staff - the equivalent of 4.8 full-time positions - currently operate Knocknagoshel Meals on Wheels, with three delivery vans on the go, each run by two members of staff.
“We need more because we’re looking at a doubling over the next few weeks. And we are even getting many young families – where there are children with asthma, for instance – looking for a service too.”
Meanwhile the team is working closely with local shop Kieran’s XL. If you want groceries delivered, phone Kieran and the service will deliver them too - on (087)9714255. Contact Mary for Meals on Wheels at (087) 126 9270.