Today we celebrate a significant day - Day for Older Persons is meant to remind us that senior citizens deserve our respect, attention, and care. What is more, the International Day for Older Persons aims to promote critical principles, which have been established to respond to the challenges faced by older persons and build a more inclusive and safe community for all ages. The key objectives listed by the United Nations include the fight against age-motivated discrimination (issues connected to ageism), prevention of disability, providing appropriate and suitable medical care, and ensuring that older persons have full access and can participate in the cultural and economic life of their communities.
When it comes to the penultimate objective, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity donated equipment for nearly PLN 99 million to Poland's geriatric wards and long-term care facilities. Senior care was the focus of our fundraisers five times when we noticed how neglected this branch of medicine is and how appalling the conditions at the wards where older persons receive care were. So we donated 13 642 medical devices and pieces of furniture (such as beds with bedside cabinets and anti-bedsore mattresses). We have also used the media reach of our Grand Finale fundraisers to publicize senior care in the media and to draw the public's attention to the way we treat older persons - both in our lives and in social life as a whole.
Overall, we supported:
We bought different types of equipment, including:
Lidia Niedźwiedzka-Owsiak, who is the director of the medical division of the GOCC Foundation, was awarded an Honoris Causa at the Poznań University of Medical Sciences. This recognition was given in appreciation of her commitment to upholding the highest standards in healthcare.
Traditionally, on Fridays just before the Grand Finale fundraiser, the GOCC Foundation hosts a press conference to sum up the preparations for the annual collection. Jurek Owsiak will present all our initiatives, actions, and activities as we prepare to celebrate another edition of the joyous celebration of kindness!
Hundreds of participants wearing our original orange T-shirts? It's a signature feature of our "Get Even with Diabetes" Run! We will hold the 18th stationary edition of the run in the streets of Warsaw on 28 January. However, the virtual run starts today! You can still register online and add your time to the pool!
