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Trillium grant helps Matthews House Hospice improve security

Grant paid for renovations needed 'to allow residents at risk for wandering to stay safely in our residence,' says hospice official
06-05-2023-matthews-house-hospice-grant
From left to right: OPP Inspector Steve Ridout; Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey; Jennifer Armstrong, Representative for Terry Dowdall MP Simcoe-Grey; Cathy Morden, President, Matthews House Hospice Board of Directors; Margaret Bachle, CEO, Matthews House Hospice; Richard Norcross, Mayor, Town of New Tecumseth

NEWS RELEASE
MATTHEWS HOUSE HOSPICE
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On May 30, MPP Brian Saunderson met with the team at Matthews House Hospice (MHH) to hear how a $150,000 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in 2022 has made an impact. The grant was used to install a high-level security system designed specifically to ensure people living with mild to moderate dementia and cognitive impairments are safe.

The system was required for the new Memory Care and Dementia Day program. The project has been completed and the new program will commence on June 5th.

“This important investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to install a state-of-the-art security system will help ensure the safety and security of the patients in the memory care and dementia day program,” said Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey. “I want to congratulate Matthews House CEO, Margaret Bachle, and her team of staff and dedicated volunteers for the great work they do supporting people and their families in our community.”

This upgrade was needed to enable the hospice to implement an outpatient Memory Care and Dementia Day program for residents of this region. This program will provide recreation and socialization for people living with memory loss and dementia.

This type of program greatly benefits the caregivers of the people attending this program by providing them the opportunity to pursue activities of their chose while their loved one is in the program. The program will allow 10 people to attend each day, Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 3:00pm.

In addition to the new program, the new security system also allows Matthews House Hospice to admit people who are at risk to wander to the residence for palliative care or a Caregiver relief stay. Thanks to the $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, people of all abilities will be able to access MHH programs and services.

"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated,” said Bachle, CEO of Matthews House Hospice. “This grant has allowed the needed renovations to be made in order to provide the Memory and Dementia Day program and allow residents at risk for wandering to stay safely in our residence. We also want to congratulate the Ontario Trillium Foundation on 40 years of granting and building healthy and vibrant communities across the province.”

Matthews House Hospice is committed to supporting not only our clients, but also their caregivers, families, ad friends through our residential, outreach, bereavement and community programs. If you wish to inquire about MHH, please visit the website at: www.matthews.house

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

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