While spending a lot of repeated admissions in hospital on an orthopedic ward which happen to specialize in fractured Neck of Femur, I was surrounded by a lot of elderly people.

There was one patient who was there on my first admission and was still there on my last; a huge 6 week gap. It occurred to me in that time she had no family or friends visit and had no belongings or even a single item of clothing.

This patient was 91 years old and it turned out she had very little family, the family she did have lived far away and were too quite elderly themselves.
This lady had dementia and worked her way into my heart, with previous work history with the elderly many suffering with dementia I knew that what seemed the 'simple' things are what really make the biggest difference.

She was frequently getting upset and agitated up over having none of her own clothing and spending each and every day in hospital nighties and gowns and it dawned on me that I would hate for any of my loved ones to have nothing to call they're own, and living in hospital gowns.

When I was discharged I decided along with my friend we would be returning to the ward to visit her and have brought her a few items of clothing; on a recent visit to see her it was apparent how happy she was with her new found clothing, just a simple few items made her smile... worth it all!

This lady is now awaiting a placement in a home; she previously lived in support living and it is not apparent as to whether she will ever be reunited with her previous belongings... That could be 91 years of stuff gone.. memories, ornaments and that favourite item of clothing we all have.

We are hoping to raise even a tiny amount of money to get her a few more items of clothing, a dressing gown, some slippers possibly even some toiletries and when she is placed to get her a few items to make her room her own such as a blanket ect.