President’s message 2020

President’s Message (original in French, 2020 Annual Report, La Maison de Tara)

2020 was a strange and testing year for us all.  La Maison de Tara was no exception.  We struggled sometimes to keep the house open, to protect our staff and volunteers, and above all to enable our residents and their loved ones to be comfortable and secure.  We drew on all the resources that together we have developed during the last nine years to meet these challenges.  The diary which follows recounts some of the highlights and challenges of this extraordinary year. 

January dawned without any indication of what lay ahead or how our lives would be overturned… just the occasional mention in the press of a virus in Wuhan, China that the authorities were tracking.  Here in Switzerland it all seemed very far away.  We were naïve.  In our current mobile world no country is far away, at least for a virus ‘catching a lift’ on unsuspecting travellers. 

By February we continued our normal mix of support to residents and families, combined with essential administration: finalising accounts, preparing the annual report and planning the essential fund-raising, without which La Maison de Tara could not exist and develop.   Towards the end of the month a global pandemic was declared and the situation in Switzerland – and indeed globally – began to look very alarming. It was clear that we had to make a number of critical decisions, such as whether we could keep the hospice open and under what circumstances. 

With the agreement of the Department of Health and by taking strict hygiene measures, we were able to continue to accept end-of-life residents throughout the pandemic, thus relieving pressure on other institutions and hospitals in this time of crisis.  The families of our residents were also welcomed, which was not always possible elsewhere, and which was much appreciated by all. 

In March and April, in the height of the pandemic, our wonderful team of professionals – our manager, the coordinating nurses, the night attendants and the housekeeping staff – agreed to increase their hours at Tara.  This temporary arrangement was possible because our volunteers mobilised to fulfil domestic tasks essential to the functioning of the house.  Our volunteers were also able to support the families thanks to the good weather which gave us a serious helping hand.  Indeed, residents and loved ones were able to benefit to the maximum from the large and beautiful garden, so well-tended by green fingered volunteers. To the great joy of everyone, some residents, families and friends were even able to celebrate birthdays, while completely adhering to the health regulations in force. 

During these months of semi-confinement, the Department of Health lent us a very welcome hand, particularly in the provision of personal protective equipment, which was difficult to obtain at this stage of the pandemic.  The Department’s support throughout this difficult year enabled La Maison de Tara to pursue its two missions, as a hospice and as a training centre for volunteers, the precious caregivers of the future.  We wish to thank them here for this invaluable collaboration. 

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“Bravo for your organisation, and thank you to your team for all that you do for the patients of Geneva. Good luck!”  Thierry Monod, Scientific Counsellor, Department of Health (original: French)

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The health crisis also upset the calendar for the training of volunteers. We had to halt the courses from mid-March to 8 June, the date fixed by the Federal Council for the resumption of adult education courses.

In May, we called on the Commune of Chêne-Bougeries for help, who once again came to our aid.  It made available a room in one of the schools which was large enough for us to hold our training courses while keeping a safe distance between participants. This let us catch up on lost time so that our trainee volunteers could complete the course theory by September.

In June and during summer, our manager welcomed many people interested in becoming volunteers at La Maison de Tara even in a major health crisis! This show of solidarity by people of all ages and nationalities impressed and touched us.  We recruited more than 55 people who started their training in September.  Unfortunately, we twice had to cancel our annual two-day seminar at Webster University with Tanguy Châtel. We hope to hold the seminar in Spring 2021. 

In July, in the framework of its project “Engagement bénéfique”, the Nomads Foundation chose La Maison de Tara and four other foundations/associations to twin with enterprises wanting to offer their employees the possibility to do voluntary service.  We are actively participating in the preparatory work for this innovatory project. 

The happy news arrived in August that La Maison de Tara’s founder, Anne-Marie Struijk-Mottu, had been awarded the prestigious Prix Sana for 2020. The prize is awarded annually to one or more people for their altruistic contribution to their community. 

You can see on our website the delightful video made at the house by the Sana team.

Welcoming the team, sharing past and present experiences, and leafing through photograph albums, brought back many unforgettable and moving memories. 

From the end of September the new Coronavirus wave prevented us from continuing with our live training courses and so we decided to hold them online, which was no small endeavour! Thanks to the technical support of a volunteer we were able to set up a dedicated website for the volunteers to access the modules online, with background materials. This method of work, which was completely new to us, led us to review and update the training materials to facilitate their online teaching. 

October saw La Maison de Tara participate in Geneva’s recognition of World Palliative Care Day, organised by the Direction générale de la Santé, Palliative Genève and HUG. A roundtable, broadcast by Léman Bleu, brought together Conseiller d’Etat Mauro Poggia,  professor Sophie Pautex, and other participants including the President of La Maison de Tara. The documentary preceding the roundtable clearly showed the positive impact of volunteer engagement on excellence in the palliative care of patients.  During the debate M. Poggia praised the quality of care at La Maison de Tara. 

Four new unusual residents arrived at Tara during the month and settled happily in their very own home in the garden.  Over the summer a hencoop and run were constructed in partnership with the ASK organisation, as part of their Access Programme aimed at building self-confidence and skills for young adults with special educational needs.  One of the Tara nurses acted as “chicken consultant” and acquired our lovely birds from a local farm.  We are hoping that they will provide our residents with fresh, organic eggs in a few months.  In the interim they are providing much joy to everyone at the house and especially our younger visitors. 

In November, the management board developed a social media communications strategy aimed at enhancing the visibility of activities and life at La Maison de Tara within the community and in a wider sense.  We decided to reactivate a Facebook page originally created by a volunteer in 2018 for a funding appeal.  In addition, a new page on the Linkedin network was created by another volunteer.   We invite health and other professionals, teachers, and people in the community and surrounding areas, to follow these pages and our activities.  Recent postings have covered action taken during the pandemic, the work of volunteers and staff, as well as various themes and news linked to palliative and end-of-life care.  

*https://www.facebook.com/LaMaisonDeTara/

**www.linkedin.com/in/la-maison-de-tara-b239941b7

In December, dressing and lighting the Christmas tree and setting up the creche, is always a special time of sharing and warmth in the house.  This year it seemed especially magical and meaningful.  An extraordinary year was ending.  La Maison de Tara had overcome many unexpected difficulties.  Our residents and their families had been cared for and supported.  Our volunteers had shown their compassion, resilience and belief in the meaning of the hospice.  Many new people committed to join us.  Our staff had performed magnificently. The commune of Chêne-Bougeries had once again been our solid support and the cantonal authorities had done everything possible to enable us to keep the house open.

Despite the increasing needs of many institutions and associations due to the Covid19 crisis, and hence some additional calls on the goodwill of donors, our fund-raising successfully enabled us to cover the entire year’s expenses. 

We lack adequate words to express our immense gratitude to all our amazing donors, small and large, whose generosity and encouragement warm our hearts and enable La Maison de Tara to grow as a compassionate community. 

If we have been able to find the right way forward in this challenging and singular year, it is thanks to a wide circle of people and organisations who recognise the deep meaning of social solidarity. 

Thank you all.  Stay safe. 

Anne-Marie Struijk-Mottu