Mo Chairde Seenagers. A Community Services Program providing day centre activities & Meals on Wheels

Description

Mo Chairde offers a day care centre twice a week, catering to the needs of the elderly. vulnerable and isolated within our community. We affectionately refer to our clients as “Seenagers” because we recognize their vibrant energy and enthusiasm for life, reminiscent of their teenage years, despite any ailments they may have. Our aim is to create an environment that fosters this youthful spirit and supports them in maintaining their positive outlook on life. We organize various activities that encourage social inclusion and promote healthy living. These activities are designed to engage our clients both mentally and physically, providing opportunities for them to interact with others and form meaningful connections within the community.
We provide a convenient pick-up and drop-off service for users of our day care centre, recognising that without this assistance, many individuals would be unable to attend. Additionally, we organise day tours to various venues that align with the interests of our clients, creating enjoyable and engaging experiences for them.
In addition, we operate a Meals on Wheels program five days a week, delivering healthy and nutritious meals to our clients.Through our Meals on Wheels service, we ensure that our Seenagers have access to wholesome and nourishing meals, promoting their overall health and well-being. These meals are carefully prepared to meet their dietary requirements and contribute to their physical vitality.
Mo Chairde is committed to enhancing the lives of our Seenagers, acknowledging their unique needs and aspirations. By offering these vital services, we strive to empower them to live life to the fullest and embrace the joy and fulfilment that comes with it.
In collaboration with Tesco and Aldi through their “Food Cloud” program, we are able to offer our service users food that is close to its sell-by date, free of charge. This initiative helps reduce food waste while providing nutritious options to those in need.
Furthermore, from October to June, we facilitate a local Rural Men’s group once a week. This group is specifically for men over 65, providing them with the opportunity to meet, socialise, engage in conversations, and enjoy a wholesome three-course meal. This initiative promotes social inclusion, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the participants.
Through these additional services and collaborations, we aim to enhance the overall experience and well-being of all our clients, ensuring that they have access to transportation, enjoyable outings, and nourishing meals. By promoting social interaction and providing support, we strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all individuals involved.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the Mo Chairde initiative is to provide support and assistance to elderly, vulnerable, and isolated individuals within our community. The specific objectives of the initiative are:
To offer a day care centre that provides a safe and inclusive environment for our Seenagers. The aim is to combat social isolation and loneliness by organizing activities that promote social interaction and foster a sense of community. To recognise and celebrate the energy and enthusiasm of our Seenagers, acknowledging that despite any ailments they may have, they possess a youthful spirit. By providing a facility that supports their emotional well-being and encourages a positive outlook on life, we aim to help them maintain a sense of vitality and zest.
To promote healthy living among our Seenagers through engaging activities in the day care centre. These activities are designed to stimulate their minds, keep them physically active, and contribute to their overall health.
To ensure that our clients receive healthy and nutritious meals through our Meals on Wheels service. This aim helps address any nutritional deficiencies they may have and promotes their overall well-being.
Ultimately, our principal goal is to enhance the quality of life for our clients by recognizing their energy, enthusiasm, and resilience. We want to empower them to continue experiencing life to the fullest and provide them with the necessary support and resources to do so.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at elderly, vulnerable, and isolated individuals within our community

3 Steps critical to success

1. Funding – Securing adequate funding played a crucial role in the successful implementation of our activities. The availability of sufficient financial resources was instrumental in ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of Mo Chairde’s initiatives. We actively pursued grant opportunities from various sources, such as government agencies, foundations, and community organisations. Through thorough research and strategic planning, we identified relevant grants and thoroughly prepared applications. Successful grant awards provided essential funding to support the day-to-day operations, staffing, and programmatic activities of our initiatives.
2. Transport – The provision of transport services enabled individuals to access and benefit from our activities. Many of our service users faced challenges in reaching our day care centre or participating in day tours without reliable transportation. By offering pick-up and drop-off facilities, we removed transportation barriers and ensured that individuals who would have otherwise been unable to attend could actively engage in our activities. This enhanced participation and contributed to the overall success of our initiatives.
3. Continuous Evaluation & Feedback .Placing the needs and preferences of our Seenagers at the forefront of our decision-making process, we actively sought feedback from them to ensure their voices were heard. Through surveys, chats, and regular interactions, we collected valuable insights regarding their experiences, satisfaction levels, and suggestions for improvement. This client focused approach allowed us to customise and refine our services to better meet the specific needs of the elderly, vulnerable, and isolated individuals we were dedicated to serving. By actively listening and incorporating their feedback, we were able to create a more inclusive and effective environment that truly addressed their unique requirements

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Funding Constraints: Securing adequate funding was a persistent challenge for us. As a non-profit organisation, we relied on grants, donations, and fundraising efforts to sustain our activities. The limited availability of financial resources posed obstacles in terms of meeting operational costs, expanding services, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our initiatives. We had to continuously seek alternative funding sources and explore creative ways to maximise our resources.
2. Transportation Logistics: Providing transportation services, especially for pick-up and drop-off of our service users, presented logistical challenges. Coordinating schedules, addressing mobility needs, and ensuring efficient routes required careful planning and coordination. We had to maintain open lines of communication and adapt to changing demands to ensure the smooth and reliable transportation of our service users.
3. Marketing & Communication: Raising awareness among our target groups and their families about the services we offer and effectively reaching out to those who would benefit the most from our support

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Empowered and Valued Individuals – Our initiative has created a supportive environment that enables individuals to embrace life with the same vibrancy and enthusiasm as teenagers, regardless of their ailments. By offering a facility tailored to their needs, we have supported them to maintain their positive outlook on life and boosted their overall self-esteem. This sense of empowerment has had a profound impact on their well-being, fostering a renewed zest for life and a belief in their own capabilities.
2. Increased Independence and Engagement: Through our initiatives, we have empowered our service users to maintain their independence and actively engage in community life. By offering transportation services and organising day tours, we have enabled them to participate in meaningful activities, explore new places, and enjoy enriching experiences.
3. Strengthened Support Network: Our initiative has created a strong support network for the elderly, vulnerable, and isolated individuals within our community. By connecting them with like-minded individuals, volunteers, and staff members, we have provided a reliable and caring community that offers emotional support, encouragement, and assistance when needed