Event Turns Ugly Sweaters into Safer, More Independent Patients

Mercy Medical Center - Sioux City
Sioux City, IA

At Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Mercy Home Care hosted a November ugly sweater sales to create a fund that will supplement patients’ safety needs. Wendy Beavers, account executive for Mercy Home Care, explained: “We often have patients who need safety devices or equipment but have no way of paying for them. Sometimes there is no family, insurance coverage or the patient has very minimal income. Mercy Home Care does not want these barriers to prevent our patients from remaining safe in their home environment.”

Bath benches, grab bars, hand railings and other safety equipment can often make the difference as to whether a patient is able to stay in their home safely and independently.  Mercy Home Care always strives to give patients the best chance at success and now has a fund to lean on to help their patients obtain what they need.

There has been much community support for the effort including Mercy colleagues and volunteers; the Siouxland Crafters Club; the Siouxland Center for Active Generations; Struck, Layman, Rose Group; Floyd Place Assisted Living; Sioux City Fence and many more individuals in the community who offered assistance to help provide and design more than 170 sweaters for the sale.

“The sale was not only beneficial in starting our fund but it also served as a gathering place where employees, visitors, patients and vendors were laughing, joking and really getting in the holiday spirit,” said Beavers. “It was a joy to see our Ugly Sweater Sale quickly turn into an area of healing – smiles and fun. Laughter can be great medicine!”

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