Officials are hoping to expand on the success of the Closer to Home program without increasing its budget over the next three years.
“The program has been very successful thus far and has exceeded our initial expectations as to the number of individuals served in the program, as well as the face-to-face visits,” Mapleton clerk Patty Sinnamon said in a recent report to council.
The current three-year funding agreement between Mapleton and the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) will expire at the end of March.
As the lead for the program, which also serves seniors in Minto and Wellington North, Mapleton Township received $179,300 in funding each year from the LHIN.
But given the program had a surplus of $37,000 in both 2009 and 2010, Sinnamon believes officials can continue to operate at the same funding level while also offering the following enhancements:
– a possible expansion into Southgate Township, which, while geographically located in Grey County, is part of the Waterloo Wellington LHIN;
– adding a representative from Wellington North to the Seniors’ Advisory Group (and another from Southgate if the program expands to that township); and
– introducing a new “Village Comfort Keepers program,” which will match a senior with a younger neighbour who will be able to help out with small household duties, thus preventing injuries while also helping seniors remain in their own homes longer.
When councillor Neil Driscoll expressed concern about receiving the report fairly late, Sinnamon told council the funding application for the program had to be submitted to the LHIN right away.
She reiterated the township was not seeking a funding increase and said there are no tax dollars involved, although Mapleton does provide in-kind donations to the program in the form of free use of facilities and payroll and accounting services.
She added those donations – combined with in-kind contributions from other municipalities, the county and local churches – have helped make the Closer to Home program a success.
Council approved the funding application for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 years.
