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Launching the Storyboxes project last month in Our Lady Of Fatima Home were in front Sr Laurence O’Brien, Sr Colette Stafford and Tom O’Connor. Back: Ina Mulhall, Karen Walsh, Evelyn Dore, Charlotte O’Halloran, Mary O’Brien and Maurice O’Keeffe. Photo by Dermot Crean
A LOCAL teacher will appear on RTE’s Today show today (Wednesday) with Daithí O Sé and Maura Derrane after the success of an initiative to bring joy to older people in nursing homes.
Evelyn Dore of Moyderwell Primary and Karen Walsh of CBS created ‘Storyboxes’, a box with books, CDs and photos of times past which they hoped would jog the memories of residents in nursing homes.
The project was launched late last month and since then the ladies have been overwhelmed by its success.
“Since then we’ve had amazing feedback!” said Evelyn. “One lady in a convalescent home wasn’t eating or drinking for any of the staff. Since the boxes have been rolled out she is eating again. There are many stories like this and it has improved so many people’s quality of life. I couldn’t have asked for it to have been a bigger success,” she said.
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“Many families have contacted us for the mobile box that is being sent to private homes around the town for free and it’s working splendidly! Many others have been inspired to make their own memory boxes for the seniors that are near and dear to them. It’s incredible to be honest!”
Evelyn said RTE’s researchers discovered the project through the story we posted on TraleeToday.ie back in late March and contacted them about appearing on the Today show, so Evelyn will represent the two of them on the couch with Daithi and Maura.
One of the storyboxes.
Evelyn is excited about the publicity this might generate and maybe others will take up the idea in other parts of the country.
“When you think about it, our eight boxes were able to feed the whole town. It is definitely possible, that with a collaborative effort this could become a nationwide project giving acknowledgement, wellbeing, respect and joy to our senior citizens, the pillars of our community, that have worked so hard all their lives. It’s time we gave back to them,” added Evelyn.
The eight nostalgia storyboxes are in the ownership of Active Retirement Ireland but are being distributed to all who want them throughout the town.
Inside these boxes are all five senses to bring joy to these senior citizens. These include archived photographs, old Tralee show bands, books, historical storytelling CD’s, very old Tralee footage and many more historical Tralee based artifacts.
Also in the boxes are sensory smell jars (apparently smell is the biggest trigger to bring back memory in reminiscence therapy), which include old perfumes, the incense of the church, snuff, carbolic soap, the sea and much more.
As a sensory touch, local volunteers have made fidget blankets which are brilliant for people battling dementia and Alzheimer’s.
It was a huge effort but the ladies managed to get a number of contributors for the project. They include: Dan Divane video productions; Office and Ink; Boyles Topline; Maurice O’ Keeffe of Irishlifeandlore; Mick O’ Neill; John Cleary; Kennelly’s Archives; The Kerry County Board; Sewing clubs; Laima Inga Rodenbikere, Aga Swiechowicz, Phil Carmody, Maureen Duggan.; Tralee Mens Shed; Jane Hilliard; Sally Shaw Smith of traditional craft productions; Blennerville Book Committee; Tralee Library and Michael Diggins.
If anyone wants the boxes to loan to their homes or if anyone has any Tralee memorabilia/ photographs that they would like to donate, please email doreevelyn@gmail.com
