In January 2021
On Monday afternoon's 'Kildare Focus' advocate & volunteer for Care Champions, Eimear Fitzgerald, discussed her personal experience with losing her mother, while she was living in a nursing home in January 2021.
During January of that year, Ireland was in Level 5 lockdown, meaning:
- People were only allowed travel up to 5km from their homes
- Schools & colleges were closed
- Only essential retail was open
- No visitors were allowed in homes
- A maximum of 10 people were allowed to attend funerals in person
- Public transport was at 25% capacity, people were discouraged from using it where possible
- A maximum of 6 people could attend weddings
- No organised indoor or outdoor events allowed
- Gyms, pools & leisure centres were closed
- Restaurants, cafes & pubs were closed, with takeaway or delivery services available
- Hotels, BBs etc. were only allowed open for essential purposes
Eimear's mother Stephanie was living in a care home, prior to the declaration of the pandemic in February 2020.
Strict rules & regulations were implemented by Irish nursing homes, in March 2020.
Discussing regulations in place at her mother's care home, Eimear noted "At time I was told I was allowed one 15-minute visit with Mommy, per week. And, unfortunately when that was scheduled for me Mommy was unresponsive at the time. As she was going in & out of consciousness, at my visit she was unresponsive."
The nurse on duty informed her "I had my visit for that week & I would not be getting anymore. So don't even look for another visit tomorrow, I think she knew by experience of me that I would certainly try to be with Mommy as much as possible."
Stephanie sadly passed away by herself 2 days later.
Eimear spoke about the trauma she experienced due to the circumstances surrounding her mother's death.
She said, "we were denied & Mommy was denied. And & it's for Mommy's sake that I just feel that nobody should end up like this.
This is not fair on anybody."
Due to her own tragic experience, Eimear now volunteers with Care Champions - according to their Facebook page "a family run advocacy group for all people who need care support in the community."
Care Champions can be contacted via email: CareChampionsIreland@gmail.com
Listen back to Eimear's full interview with Ciara Noble:
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