With the ongoing scourge of the coronavirus, Swords Order of Malta is offering a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable members of the community, many of whom are too afraid to step outside their home.
The Swords unit has set up a service for the elderly, disabled and infirm, where medication and grocery shopping can be collected by members and delivered to service users’ homes.
Mandy Canty, officer in charge of the Order of Malta Swords unit, explains: ‘It’s for any of the elderly, or anyone who can’t get out to get shopping or medication or whatever, that we’re willing to go out and do it for them and deliver it to them. There’s an awful lot of elderly people that are afraid to get out and can’t get out to get their basic needs. That’s the reason why we’re doing it, is that if anyone feels that they can’t go out because they’re high-risk or whatever and they’ve no one to do it, then we’ll do it for them.
‘Some of the charities now, because of the fact of the safety of their members, they’re closing their offices, so it’s just a link that if anyone needed anything that we’re available to get it for them and bring it to them. It’s mostly medication or food or if they’re afraid and need to talk to anyone, we’d have a chat with them because of the isolation part of it as well.’
Swords Order of Malta set up the service two weeks ago when the HSE advised ‘high-risk’ members of the public to stay at home or limit social contact due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
With many people succumbing to ‘panic buying’, it was felt there was an urgent need to address the needs of the elderly, many of whom have been house-bound since the virus broke.
The delivery service is only available in Swords at the moment, but Mandy says that other towns will also be considered depending on the location.
The service is available ‘whenever needed’, Mandy adds, once shops and chemists remain open.
She says: ‘I don’t want people to not have food in their houses and they’re afraid to go out. It’s just so frightening, especially with elderly people being at such high risk. A lot of them are absolutely terrified, because they don’t know whether they’re coming or going or if it gets any worse, how they are going to get their shopping. It just saves them from worrying, that they know that this service is available if needed.’
Mandy says she’s trying to get word out about the service, but that this is proving difficult as information is currently available on the unit’s Facebook page and elderly people may not have access.
Mandy now intends to get in touch with Fr Paul of St Cronan’s Church for his assistance in identifying members of the community who may need the service. In the meantime, she is hoping that notice in The Fingal Independent will raise awareness and encourage people to make contact with the Swords unit.
If you know someone who may need the assistance of Swords Order of Malta, contact Mandy at: 086-1255235.