Cairns older people urgently need nursing support!

Who is behind this go fund me and why was it set up?

Hi my name is Coral Wilkinson. I’m a registered nurse and aged care advocate who lives in the Cairns, the regional Queensland town that’s been devastated by floods after tropical cyclone Jasper. I urgently need your help to raise funds to purchase much needed nursing supplies for older people unable to access these right now.

I don't need to rehash the destruction of the floods in my community, I'm sure you've watched the news recently and seen images like this

Whats happened in Cairns is devastating, heart breaking and utterly overwhelming.

My mum lives in a villa complex that has many other older people living there too. At 6.30 am on Sunday 17th Dec, my mother in law texted me to see if I knew there was an evacuation notice for my mum’s location. I didn’t. Those notices were only sent to people in that location.

I jumped in the car and raced over to my mum’s and got her out of her out of her villa just in time. Many other older people didn’t get out.

The rapid rate that the Barron River rose that day was startling and unprecedented. The aftermath of damage is significant. People are traumatised and bereft.

These villas are still without power more than a week later.

How do I know whats needed?

In the days after the water receded our community mobilised to help out. I'd been wondering how I could help too, more than cleaning or cooking meals or doing people’s washing. As an RN I felt my support could be more specific. I door knocked to see how other older people in these villas were. They weren’t ok.

So I decided to offer help as a nurse, supplying products that would otherwise be out of reach, because these people don’t drive and it takes weeks to get into a GP clinic. It also takes months to get into and through our aged care system and these people can’t wait for months.

It’s a big task and there are many older people spread across many devastated suburbs in Cairns. So I’m asking you for your support to purchase nursing supplies I know firsthand are very needed.

How much money should I give and what is your target ? Anything you can give is very appreciated! Suggested amount if you can for individuals is $10 and $100 for organisations. Our initial target was $2000 to purchase bulk nursing supplies. We are SO grateful for everyone helping us get to this first milestone! 

Our next target is $4000 so we can purchase different nursing supplies including more specialised equipment. We will review and update the target as the supplies are delivered and we can assess what is the most pressing need.

How will the funds you contribute be used? This go fund me will go entirely towards purchase of nursing supplies and supports. This includes continence and wound products that I can deliver to older people in the Cairns who have lost everything. And many have.

How will I deliver the nursing supplies? They will be stored in my garage (by moving my car). I’ll begin supplying continence aids and wound care products myself when I visit people in their homes. If I am lucky enough to have some volunteers and can't do it all myself I'll use these as well for deliveries.

What will we do if we raise more funds than we need for nursing supplies? If this campaign does well, I’d like to supply nonslip mats, shower chairs and mobility aids. And if your support is incredible, I’d love to follow up with these people and ensure they have a microwave oven to reheat meals, a fridge to store their meals and any other equipment that will help them regain their well-being.

Can we send nursing supplies directly rather than/as well as contribute to this go fund me? YES! If you'd prefer to send me continence products directly (pull ups are great) and wound care supplies you can. Just contact me via email on my website

https://www.seemeacn.com.au/contact-us

Older people in Cairns urgently need your help! These are mums, dads and friends in my community who need these nursing supports desperately right now and won’t get without your help.

Yes there are Government grants on offer but without power and not knowing how to navigate the internet, these older people will miss out.

Please help me to help older people in Cairns now, in their time of need.

Coral Wilkinson RN , Author, Aged care advocate , Aged Care Navigator

www.seemeacn.com.au

We are grateful for the support from the following individuals and Organisations who have supported to date (this does not constitute endorsement of the go fund me, we are grateful that they have generously helped by donating time, money, goods or sharing on to lots of others!)

Alwyn Blayse CEO of AAC Health Group Australia (www.aachealthgroup.com.au) ,

Amina Schipp from Aged Care Reform Now (www.agedcarereformnow.com.au)

Jay Richters from Together we care (www.togetherwecare.com.au)

YOUR NAME OR ORGANISATION HERE