Online Yoga Class

Join ILFA for a free online yoga class for lung fibrosis patients and carers with ILFA Ambassador, Michael Darragh Macauley on Wednesday 14th April at 3pm.

This class takes online using Zoom and consists of breathing exercises, stretches and gentle chair and standing exercises. Why not give it a try! All are welcome.

Please call Gemma on 086 871 5264 or email info@ilfa.ie to register in advance for the class. Namaste!

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA)’s “Easter Monday 2000 Steps Extra for ILFA” will take place virtually on Monday 5th April. We want patients, carers, family members, healthcare professionals, industry supporters to exercise and take an extra 2000 steps (approximately 1 mile) more than their regular daily step count to raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis and raise funds to support ILFA’s work.

You can take part from anywhere – in your garden, indoors from your house and within 5km of your home while following public health guidance. The important goal is to step it out for health!

Remember to take a photo and log your step count with us! We’ll have fun counting the total steps taken to see how far we reach!

Contact ILFA on 086 871 5264 or email info@ilfa.ie for more information.

Donate securely online here: https://bit.ly/3cQkGHz

or via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/donate/909831699764531/6015826088443518

ILFA has a new set of infographics to help raise awareness of what Idiopathic Pulonary Fibrosis (IPF) is, the signs and symptoms of IPF and the treatment of IPF.

WHAT IS IPF?

Signs and Symptom

Treatment

An online World Café-style workshop with patients, carers, family members, healthcare professionals and industry representatives will take place via Zoom on Saturday 17th April for approximately 3 hours.

The workshop will allow stakeholders to share ideas on how to address the needs and priorities of the pulmonary fibrosis community. We want to gather this data to help us campaign for a dedicated Clinical Care Programme for Lung Fibrosis. Such programmes exist for other serious health conditions and have dedicated health funding. A structured clinical care programme with a standard model of care is needed to meet the healthcare needs of our patients. It is even more relevant now, as it is anticipated that there may be an increase in the incidence of pulmonary fibrosis from COVID-19 infection.

If you would like to take part in the online ILFA World Café, please register your expression of interest by emailing info@ilfa.ie or calling 086 871 5264.

This event is made possible thanks to funding from the Community Foundation of Ireland and RTE Does Comic Relief.

ILFA is delighted to announce a new online Sing Strong for Pulmonary Fibrosis online class for patients and carers. A 12-week pilot programme will be delivered once a week by Ciara Meade (Choir Mistress) and her colleague Roisin Calahan (physiotherapist) will assist. Classes will start at the end of April and will last approximately 60-70 minutes each.

Research has shown that singing for lung health classes that are delivered by a trained specialist provided valuable psychological and social benefits to people living with respiratory conditions. Some of the benefits include
– improvement breathing control
– better management of breathlessness
– improved posture
– relief of anxiety
– fun, enjoyment and social interaction

You do not need to be a good singer or have singing experience. The classes will take place online and everyone will sing (muted) from the comfort of their home, while training and exercising their breathing muscles under the expert guidance of a choir mistress.

This activity is supported with funding from Air Liquide Healthcare Ireland and BOC Healthcare Ireland. We are enormously grateful for their kind support.

Please contact ILFA on 086 871 5264 or email info@ilfa.ie to register.

ILFA’s Virtual Exercise Class for lung fibrosis patients takes place every Monday and Thursday 11am via Zoom.

The clasess are led by Gordon Cagney (Senior Respiratory Physiotherapist) at University Hospital Limerick and you can join in from the comfort of your home.

Call 086 871 5264 or email info@ilfa.ie to register in advance to join the class.

Physiotherapy students at University Hospital Limerick recorded this exercise video to help patients who want to exercise more regularly between classes.

Click the link for instructions on how to use Zoom to join online meetings and events hosted by ILFA.

Remember to register in advance to join us for our online events and activities.

Call 086 871 5264 or email info@ilfa.ie

Here is the recording of the ILFA Patient Information Day that took place on Saturday 27th February 2021.

Sincere thanks to our speakers for excellent presentations and to Justin Dawson for providing the technical expertise to deliver this event.

https://youtu.be/IHwRwAN8V-c

“Let’s Talk … Singing for Lung Health” will take place on Wednesday 24th March at 3pm with Ciara Meade, Choir Mistress with Sing Strong.

Join us to learn more about the health benefits of singing for lung health and breathing.

We will also discuss the launch of a new virtual pilot programme on singing for lung fibrosis patients starting in April 2021.

Please register in advance by calling ILFA on 086 871 5264 or emailing info@ilfa.ie

Please take the 2021 ILFA Research Survey via the following link http://bit.ly/ilfaweb or by calling 021 245 5070
Last year ILFA conducted a research survey to better understand the personal challenges faced by our members; patients, carers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders during the first wave of the pandemic. We received over 200 responses and are grateful to everyone who took part.
This year, we are conducting a survey to understand how you are managing in Wave 3 of the pandemic. We would be very grateful for your input if you are a patient, carer, family member, lung transplant recipient previously diagnosed with IPF or a healthcare professionals working in respiratory medicine.

Closing date 9th March 2021