MAPLETON TWP. – The Close to Home program has received a grant of $507,500 as part of the Aging at Home strategy developed by the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network.
The Mapleton program was one of 20 in the network’s catchment area to receive a grant last week, when the network board of directors approved $20.1-million over three years to fund the initiatives.
The Close to Home program will receive $143,900 in 2008-09, $184,300 in 2009-10, and $179,300 in 2010-11.
The Close to Home program aims to provide a coordinated approach to many services through a central point of access – the Mapleton Community Health Clinic in Drayton.
The services offered will include:
– transportation;
– preventive care;
– friendly visits;
– exercise programs;
– social and recreation programs; and
– one-on-one support programs.
Mapleton Township is listed as the lead for the program, which will help seniors in the northern part of Wellington County, including Mapleton, Wellington North, and Minto.
In addition to those municipalities and the new clinic, partners in the Close to Home Program include: the Minto and Mapleton Family Health Team, the Rotary Club of Drayton, the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington, and the Wellington North Seniors Council.
Background
In August, 2007, the network was allocated over $37.6-million from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Aging At Home provincial initiative.
Province wide, $700-million over three years is being invested.
The network’s Aging At Home strategy is to provide a suite of services for seniors to enable them to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, in a safe home of their choice.
A ‘Request for Ideas’ process was launched in late 2007 and since that time the network has been working with participating local organizations to develop detailed business plans that support the goals of the Aging At Home strategy.
A portfolio of 20 projects was presented to the network board of directors at its monthly meeting on Feb. 28 for review and approval.
“I want to commend, and congratulate the organizations that put forth these creative and innovative proposals for much-needed programs for seniors in our community,” said Kathy Durst, Chair of the network board.
“The submissions the board approved introduce new services to seniors or enhance services already being provided. We are feeling very confident about the difference these programs will make for seniors in our community.”
The approved programs fall into three categories: services for seniors who are frail or have complex health concerns, supportive housing services, and seniors’ health and welfare services (the Close to Home program falls into the last of theses categories).
In addition, funding is being allocated for information infrastructure, a physician lead in geriatric medicine, and ongoing planning.
“This initial $20-million investment is a strong start to providing supports for seniors,” said network chief executive officer Sandra Hanmer.
“The initiatives cover a wide range of programs such as telehomecare monitoring, emergency room assistance, in-home primary care, assistance to seniors with dementia, adult day services, stroke peer support, more access to care and housing for those at risk of homelessness, assistance for seniors to access health services, education programs to support healthy lifestyles and much more.”
Even better News is that the $20.1-million announcement last week, still leaves 46% of chief executive officer three-year provincial allocation.
“This is just the beginning,” Hanmer said.
“The Aging At Home strategy has about $17-million dollars still to be invested over the next three years and we will continue to look at innovative, imaginative services to address seniors’ needs in our communities.”
Full list of grants
Grants under the Complex and Frail Seniors’ Services include:
– $1,767,600 for Telehome Monitoring for Rural Seniors, which will serve north Wellington and Centre Wellington, led by Groves Memorial Community Hospital;
– $3,918,000 for Integrated Senior Services, which will serve the entire network area and be led by Trellis Mental Health and Development Services;
– 4121,500 for End of Life Medications in Long Term Care, led by St. Joseph’s Health Care Centre in Guelph and serving Waterloo Region and Wellington County;
– $482,617 for In-Home Primary Care Prevention and Monitoring of Seniors to serve Guelph and led by the Guelph Family Health Team;
– $625,000 for the First Link dementia program, to serve the entire network area and led by the Alzheimer Society of Guelph-Wellington;
– $2,549,913 for the Adult Day Services Network in the network area, led by St. Joseph’s Health Centre;
– $493,412 for the Linking Survivors with Survivors stroke program, led by the Ontario March of Dimes and serving the entire network area; and
– $34,800 for the Behavioural Health Program for Highly Disruptive Behaviours, led by St. Joseph’s Health Centre and serving the network area.
Supportive Housing Services for seniors grants include:
– $250,000 for the Seniors Supportive Housing Collaborative-Planning in the network area, led by the Fairview Mennonite Home;
– $1,421,800 for Assisted Living for at Risk Frail Elderly in Guelph, led by Guelph Independent Living;
– $1,327,346 for Sunnyside Supportive Housing in Waterloo Region, led by the region; and
– $1,695,651 for Access to Care and Housing for Homeless and Those at Risk of Homelessness in the Waterloo Region’s urban areas, led by the Region of Waterloo and the Working Centre.
Seniors Health and Wellness grants include:
– $894,674 for the Make Yourself at Home program in Guelph and Wellington County, led by the Evergreen Seniors Centre;
– $930,330 for Parish Nursing in the network area, led by the InterChurch Health Ministries;
– $842,209 for Connections for Healthy Aging in Cambridge, led by Fairview Mennonite Homes; and
– $507,500 for the Close to Home Program in Mapleton, which serves the Township of Mapleton, Town of Minto, and Township of Wellington North; and is led by Mapleton Township.
The network has also set earmarked $1,883,334 for information infrastructure; $225,000 for a geriatric lead in the network area; and $190,200 for ongoing planning.
More information about the Aging At Home – including a complete description and list of programs receiving grants – can be found at wwlhin.on.ca or by contacting the network office at 519-822-6208.
