Comfort injection

LYF4U founder Maree McManaway [right of the bed] and staff of Wairarapa Hospital’s medical-surgical ward, in the freshly painted Room 17. From left: Delna Jose, Michaela Mason, Diane Firmin, Teresa Churchward, Kudzie Hove, Vicky Murdoch, Georgia Morrison and Lesley Pond. PHOTO/GEORGE SYMES

A new coat of paint in a “soothing colour”, a comfortable armchair to sleep in, and a cupboard full of necessary toiletries and aromatherapy supplies can’t heal a life-threatening illness or ease a family’s grief.

But they can help create a “beautiful, comforting and peaceful space” in which sick people can recover or pass on, and where loved ones can remain at their side. So, the region’s business community has joined forces to help create that space at Wairarapa Hospital.

Maree McManaway, Carterton-based life coach and founder of LYF4U Personal Development Coaching, is coordinating a “refurbishment project” for the hospital’s medical-surgical ward – which kicked off last week with a makeover of one of the ward’s single rooms.

The renovations included a fresh paint job, some homely interior decorating, a bookcase full of supportive reading materials, and a newly installed entertainment system – with all items and labour donated by Wairarapa businesses. All work was completed within two days, allowing for the hospital’s demanding workload.

The next phase of the project will be purchasing six new La-Z-Boy chairs, one for each of the single rooms, allowing whānau to stay overnight with their sick loved ones. The final phase will be a lockable cupboard, stocked with “everyday self-care products”, A new coat of paint in a “soothing colour”, a comfortable armchair to sleep in, and a cupboard full of necessary toiletries and aromatherapy supplies can’t heal a life-threatening illness or ease a family’s grief.

But they can help create a “beautiful, comforting and peaceful space” in which sick people can recover or pass on, and where loved ones can remain at their side. So, the region’s business community has joined forces to help create that space at Wairarapa Hospital.

Maree McManaway, Carterton based-life coach and founder of LYF4U Personal Development Coaching, is coordinating a “refurbishment project” for the hospital’s medical-surgical ward – which kicked off last week with a makeover of one of the ward’s single rooms.

The renovations included a fresh paint job, some homely interior decorating, a bookcase full of supportive reading materials, and a newly-installed entertainment system – with all items and labour donated by Wairarapa businesses. All work was completed within two days, allowing for the hospital’s demanding workload.

The next phase of the project will be purchasing six new La-Z-Boy chairs, one for each of the single rooms, allowing whānau to stay overnight with their sick loved ones. The final phase will be a lockable cupboard, stocked with “everyday self-care products”, to remain on the ward for whānau to use.

The medical-surgical ward’s single rooms are usually reserved for patients who are critically unwell or, in many cases, close to death. McManaway said she was inspired to kick start the refurbishments after visiting close family on the ward – and finding the rooms were “dull, lifeless and a little depressing” and not conducive to recovery or a peaceful “passing over”.

Aware that the hospital had neither the time nor the resources for aesthetic amendments, McManaway decided to remedy the situation – and “started making a lot of phone calls” to her fellow local entrepreneurs. Most of whom, she said, were only too happy to give their time, resources and appliances towards their local hospital.

“Wairarapa Hospital is the heartbeat of our community. We all rely on it in some way; we’ve all got a connection to it,” McManaway said.

“The staff are tremendous, and the hospital itself is awesome – but they’re absolutely stretched to capacity. So we chose, as businesses, to be part of the solution – and help them create a more soothing healing or passing environment on the ward.

“A lot of people end up passing away in hospital – so you may as well make it a beautiful, comforting and peaceful space.”

The first phase of renovations was wrapped up in Room 17 last Friday afternoon: The walls were repainted “in a lovely soothing colour” by Bestblokes Painters, using medical grade paint donated by Resene, and a television and music system, courtesy of Newbolds Masterton, was installed.

Decor, including new blinds, cushions and rugs, wall canvases, and silk floral arrangement, were supplied by The Whole Nine Yards, The Sanctuary, Maisons Eketahuna, Pete Nikoliason, and La Fleur Florist. Take Note Carterton and Paper Plus provided reading materials and an “affirmations calendar” to help comfort anxious and grieving family members.

McManaway said the hospital staff have been “hugely supportive and receptive” of the project – but could only allow a 48-hour window for her team to complete the renovations.

“They’re just so busy. We had to move as quickly as possible. It was a bit of a juggle, but we got there!”

LYF4U has set up a Givealittle page to raise the almost $5000 needed for the six La-Z-Boys, which Bryan’s Furniture has agreed to sell at cost. Items for the care cupboard – donated by Mitre 10 Masterton – are also arriving from businesses and the wider community – including toiletries, sanitary products, dry shampoos, fragrances and massage lotions.

“It’s so important for family to be able to offer touch and physical contact to someone who is passing away. Massage can be a big part of that,” McManaway said.

“Also, it can be so hectic for family members when someone is gravely ill – when you’re rushing into hospital to be with them, you’re not going to have time to grab everything you need for a shower. And, before you know it, you’ve not cleaned your teeth in three days.

“You don’t always know what you’re going to need in those kind of situations. So, having self-care products on hand will mean it’s one less thing for families to worry about.”

McManaway said she feels “proud and humbled” by the response to the project so far.

“It’s been just wonderful. Wairarapa really shows its true colours at times like this,” she said.

“It’s been a lot of work – but it’s been joyous work. We hope that you and your loved ones don’t need to use Room 17 – but, if you do, know that it’s been created with a lot of love and blessings from the Wairarapa community.”

For more information about LYF4U’s hospital renovation project, or to make a donation, contact Maree McManaway at [email protected]. To donate towards the La-Z-Boy chairs, go to https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/lyf4u-hospital. A new coat of paint in a “soothing colour”, a comfortable armchair to sleep in, and a cupboard full of necessary toiletries and aromatherapy supplies can’t heal a life-threatening illness or ease a family’s grief.

But they can help create a “beautiful, comforting and peaceful space” in which sick people can recover or pass on, and where loved ones can remain at their side. So, the region’s business community has joined forces to help create that space at Wairarapa Hospital.

Maree McManaway, Carterton based-life coach and founder of LYF4U Personal Development Coaching, is coordinating a “refurbishment project” for the hospital’s medical-surgical ward – which kicked off last week with a makeover of one of the ward’s single rooms.

The renovations included a fresh paint job, some homely interior decorating, a bookcase full of supportive reading materials, and a newly-installed entertainment system – with all items and labour donated by Wairarapa businesses. All work was completed within two days, allowing for the hospital’s demanding workload.

The next phase of the project will be purchasing six new La-Z-Boy chairs, one for each of the single rooms, allowing whānau to stay overnight with their sick loved ones. The final phase will be a lockable cupboard, stocked with “everyday self-care products”,

to remain on the ward for whānau to use.

The medical-surgical ward’s single rooms are usually reserved for patients who are critically unwell or, in many cases, close to death. McManaway said she was inspired to kick start the refurbishments after visiting close family on the ward – and finding the rooms were “dull, lifeless and a little depressing” and not conducive to recovery or a peaceful “passing over”.

Aware that the hospital had neither the time nor the resources for aesthetic amendments, McManaway decided to remedy the situation – and “started making a lot of phone calls” to her fellow local entrepreneurs. Most of whom, she said, were only too happy to give their time, resources and appliances towards their local hospital.

“Wairarapa Hospital is the heartbeat of our community. We all rely on it in some way; we’ve all got a connection to it,” McManaway said.

“The staff are tremendous, and the hospital itself is awesome – but they’re absolutely stretched to capacity. So we chose, as businesses, to be part of the solution – and help them create a more soothing healing or passing environment on the ward.

“A lot of people end up passing away in hospital – so you may as well make it a beautiful, comforting and peaceful space.”

The first phase of renovations was wrapped up in Room 17 last Friday afternoon: The walls were repainted “in a lovely soothing colour” by Bestblokes Painters, using medical grade paint donated by Resene, and a television and music system, courtesy of Newbolds Masterton, was installed.

Decor, including new blinds, cushions and rugs, wall canvases, and silk floral arrangements, were supplied by The Whole Nine Yards, The Sanctuary, Maisons Eketahuna, Pete Nikoliason, and La Fleur Florist. Take Note Carterton and Paper Plus provided reading materials and an “affirmations calendar” to help comfort anxious and grieving family members.