Project Open Doors - A District Grants Strategy

Article by PDG Grant Spackman, Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator

In the wake of COVID-19, the District 9930 Foundation Committee undertook a new strategy for District Grant applications in 2020-21, to focus on one aspect of our world that has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. The Foundation committee asked Clubs to develop their applications around the needs of the senior population. Seniors as we know have been highly impacted by the pandemic, not only because they are physically vulnerable, but in many other ways. As a group they have not been the recipient of Government funding, while at the same time services that support seniors are under increasing demand.

In response to this call, the Rotary Club of Stortford Lodge in Hastings successfully received a District Grant for their “Virtual Visitor” project. The Club purchased IPads, microphone stands and universal tablet mounts that can be installed in rest homes and similar facilities to enable residents to communicate with family or friends using Zoom or similar computer programmes. The equipment is transportable from room to room by nurses, cleaned and situated elsewhere.

The system provides a means of communication for elderly people, lifting their spirits and allowing families to feel more at ease after actually seeing and speaking with loved ones, especially those separated by long distances. Additionally, there is a growing trend in the medical world for doctors to check on their patients remotely from their clinics rather than visiting them in the rest home.

The initial programme will see six rest homes receiving the iPads and ancillary equipment. The Club is liaising with the Hawkes Bay District Health Board (DHB) for rest home staff to be trained in their set up and use. The DHB technical team will be responsible for ongoing maintenance.

The District 9930 Foundation committee are impressed with the response to their challenge to place the COVID-19 pandemic front-and-centre in their community service efforts. Project Open Doors has provided new opportunities to serve and to energise Rotary Clubs in the process.