It's Manna For Haven
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday October 21, 1999
A 10-year commitment to Blue Haven Nursing Home in Kiama has enabled an AMP agent to be in the place at the right time to help the nursing home's elderly residents.
AMP financial planner Steve Wilson has been running Rotary chocolate wheels to raise money for Blue Haven for many years and used to visit the nursing home to take patients out for walks on Sundays.
Mr Wilson, who began his association with Blue Haven a decade ago, two years after his wife Monica started working at the nursing home, said his greatest achievement came recently when he managed to secure an $18,610 grant from the AMP Foundation to purchase medical equipment and furniture designed to assist in the care of elderly people.
The equipment is designed to provide higher standards of comfort and privacy in the course of the residents' day-to-day needs.
Mr Wilson said he had been aware of the AMP Foundation for some time and applied for the funding after a discussion with director of nursing Anne Cleary.
``She told me of equipment they'd like to get but didn't have the money," he said.
Mr Wilson said the new equipment included a mobile shower trolley which could be wheeled to a resident's bed where they could have a bath.
The trolley would facilitate safe and comfortable personal hygiene for residents and safe handling for nursing staff.
He said the grant also had allowed the nursing home to acquire a new mobile lifting aid, electronic scales that make it possible to monitor residents' weight levels, and a lift hygiene chair, which would help save nurses from occupational back problems by minimising the manual handling of patients.
The grant also has allowed Blue Haven to refurnish the main foyer.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury