New disability bus for Ballyphehane
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Sarah Boyle, Clinical Nurse Manager Ballyphehane Day Care Centre HSE with day care centre service users Colette Foley, Margaret McCarthy and Phyllis McIntyre, at the launch of the Ballyphehane Community Disability Enabled Accessible Transport Bus, at Ballyphehane Community Centre. Photo: Jim Coughlan Jim CoughlanImage 2 of 2
Fr Greg Howard with members of the Ballyphehane Day Care Centre, Cork Kerry Healthcare, Cork City Council, Ballyphehane/Togher CDP, Ballyphehane Community Association and First South Credit Union, at the launch of the Ballyphehane Community Disability Enabled Accessible Transport Bus, at Ballyphehane Community Centre, Cork. Photos: Jim Coughlan Jim CoughlanThe Community Day Care in Ballyphehane received a new disability bus last week providing much-needed support to the elderly in the community. The bus plays a pivotal role in providing safe accessible transport and has been an integral part of the Day Care service since 2001.
Ballyphehane Day Care Centre support older people who are still able to live at home but need to have a link to available services in the community. Day care allows them to retain their independence without feeling isolated and gives them the opportunity to meet up with others in a similar situation for social activities and interaction.
Sarah Boyle, the Nurse Coordinator, and her predecessor, Maura Lombard, share a passion for community elder care. According to Sarah, the centre offers people autonomy while having convenient access to healthcare professionals and a wide array of social and health support services in their neighbourhood. Additionally, it serves as a valuable source of respite for caregivers who greatly need it.
A user of the service had this to say about the benefit she has seen in her life thanks to the service. “Before the Day Care Centre, I had lost interest in life but once I joined on Mondays and Thursdays, it has put a pep in my step and a new lease of life for me. Thank you for making my life worth living.”
Siobhán O’Dowd Project Co-ordinator paid tribute “to everyone who has enabled accessible transport to support Ballyphehane Day Care and carers since 2001. They came together over 25 years ago to fundraise supported by local community organisations Ballyphehane Togher CDP & Ballyphehane Community Association,” she said.
Cork Kerry Community HealthCare has funded the operation of the disability bus since its inception and has co-funded the purchase of this accessible bus. Eleanor Moore, Principal Community Worker praised a dedicated staff team. “We know initiatives like this don’t happen overnight, that it takes a village but Ballyphehane has always been a great community to respond to community initiatives."
Cork City Council, first-time funders also co-funded the purchase of this accessible bus and acknowledged the huge contribution it makes to the community and how important a part of the Covid Community Response it had been.