7 November 2017
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Over the past few months, staff at the Mercy Hospital Foundation contacted hundreds of households across Cork City and County asking them to support the charity’s Annual Raffle which raised €38,000 which will be used to upgrade the Mercy University Hospital to make it more dementia-friendly.
The raffle draw took place on Friday, October 27th and the lucky winner of first prize of €2,000 was Julia Hall from Shanagarry, East Cork. Second prize of €500 went to Sean O’Callaghan from Donoughmore in North Cork. The winners were presented with their cheques by Micheál Sheridan, CEO, Mercy Hospital Foundation and Anne O’Hea, Occupational Therapist at the Mercy University Hospital.
People with dementia do not always find adjustment easy, particularly when in hospital with an illness. Through the Annual Raffle and support from donors, The Mercy Hospital Foundation aims to help all patients feel safe and confident when they stay in the Hospital.
The biggest change, thanks to funds raised through this year’s raffle, will be improved signage so patients can find their way around easily. The Mercy Hospital Foundation’s plan is for welcoming wall colours along with clear signs to orientate and direct patients and visitors. Much better lighting will also be installed at the end of dark corridors. The money raised will transform bland areas with clear bright colours and directions so patients feel less disorientated and afraid.
Speaking about the upgrades, Aine Harty RGN Staff Nurse at the Mercy University Hospital said “For people suffering from dementia, they can forget where they are and why they are in hospital. Disorientation and bewilderment are a common experience for people with dementia and it can be very distressing and frightening. Everything around them is so different and unfamiliar, causing them to feel quite confused and scared. Those people who supported the Mercy Raffle are helping make a real and meaningful difference to our elderly patients by helping to create an environment that ensures they feel comfortable and happy during their time at The Mercy.”
The annual raffle is just one of many fundraising drives and initiatives undertaken by the Mercy Hospital Foundation. At the presentation of prizes, Micheál Sheridan said “On behalf of all of us at The Mercy, I’d like to thank those who supported our Annual Raffle – thank you for your time, energy and most importantly, your support. Our mission is to inspire people to support advancements in research, diagnosis, treatments and care of patients at The Mercy University Hospital, the People’s Hospital. We promise to do our very best to provide you with a world class hospital, right on your doorstep, and this is only possible through the help of our supporters and donors, like those who buy, and indeed sell, tickets for our Annual Raffle.”
