CORNWALL, Ontario – In November, Tish Humphries urged community members to help contribute to the purchase of hospital bed chairs. With newly implemented 24/7 visiting hours, Humphries says it’s more important than ever to provide caregivers with a place to sleep while staying with loved ones.
Humphries and her husband Ralph have been raising funds for Project Silent Night since the start of the Christmas season, but plan on capping donations after next weekend’s Hockey with Heart fundraiser tournament, taking place in Williamstown.
After speaking with Executive Director of the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation, Amy Gillespie, the couple found that the hospital would need at least another nine chairs to meet the current demand, starting off their campaign by donating a chair themselves.
Humphries’ 28-year-old daughter Emma has special needs, and requires round-the-clock care. Prior to receiving her own chair bed, similar to a fold-out couch – Humphries and her husband had very few options for comfortable sleep when she was hospitalized with recurrent pneumonia.
Humphries says that providing caregivers with the option of chair beds is an important piece of the puzzle. “I’m happy to see more people talking about caregivers’ health,” said Humphries. “If you’re not getting any rest, you’re no use to anybody.”
Humphries says that Project Silent Night expects to raise roughly $15,000 after the hockey tournament. With the average chair bed costing upwards to $2,200, Humphries is hopeful that seven more caregivers will soon have the option of sleep during stressful times in the hospital.
“This is going to help the pregnant mom, the elderly, and those with special needs,” said Humphries. “Sometimes the smaller things get overlooked because the bigger things are necessary, but I think this is important in meeting everybody’s needs.”
