Laois Hospice recently donated five adjustable armchairs to the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The chairs help ensure the comfort of patients’ family members and enable them to be present with their loved ones nearing the end of life. Ailis Doyle, Clinical Nurse Manager at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise explained that the chairs are already being put to good use:

“Patient X was older person with wife and family and a patient in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. Once patient X neared the end of life there was a decision about going home versus staying in hospital. A request was made by patients X’s family asking if they could stay in hospital for what time was left as they had settled in and been so comfortable in the side rooms.” 

“A large component of what made the family feel at peace was knowing they had a space in the room to stay with him at all times. There was no need for them to leave his side. Over that weekend we rearranged the furniture in the room which allowed us to bring in 3 of the chairs donated to us by Laois Hospice for the family to use and there was room for all 3 to be used as beds overnight.”

“The chairs are narrow, tidy and can be used in a variety of ways such as a standard armchair, an armchair with and foot rest and also a fully supine bed.”

“This family thanked us at the time they were leaving our ward after the patient was deceased for “allowing them to bring their husband and dad home without leaving the hospital”.”

“The 5 chairs donated to Emo Court have already held so many people through some of the hardest days of their lives and we are so grateful to have received such a generous gift. A chair in and of itself seems such a minute detail but they have enabled people to be feel comfortable, close and consoled in some of their hardest moments.” 

Ailis Doyle, Clinical Nurse Manager, Emo Court, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise