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Palliative Care Outreach Program
The Hospice at May Court
Friends of Hospice Ottawa
Roger's House
Aphasia Centre of Ottawa
The Max Keeping Foundation
Cumberland Home Support
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
Abbotsford Senior Centre
Mountie House


Partner: Aphasia Centre of Ottawa

Amount: $90,000 ($50,000 granted in July 2004)

Purpose: Funding was awarded to provide rehabilitative therapy in communication skills for those individuals who have suffered brain damage as a result of stroke and/or head injury.

The Aphasia Centre accepts clients on a referral basis from physicians and Community Care Access Centre’s (CCACs) and until 1997, most of its clients were elderly persons. The Centre noticed a distinct change in the client profile and after conducting a survey, staff determined that over 60% had been fully employed at the time they became brain-injured – with an average age of 62. More than 20% of the families receiving services from the Aphasia Centre consisted of two parents (average age 47) who were raising children, anywhere from infancy to adolescence in age.

Foundation funding allowed the Centre to address this development by adjusting staff and volunteer resources – including volunteers in other community-based agencies – to expand its services aimed at:

  • reducing the extreme stress experienced by younger people with aphasia who are struggling to cope with lost employment and economic opportunities; loss of employability; disconnection from children and spouse and the loss of perceived role in the family unit;
  • facilitating interactions between the parent with aphasia and his/her children so both parties receive maximum benefit, and assistance in communicating with each other, early in their new aphasia-affected relationship;
  • enhancing both parents’ ability to nurture their children;
  • reducing stress and risk-taking behaviours in adolescent family members by increasing access to information about aphasia and support; and
  • increasing the accessibility and capacity of other community health support services to respond to the needs of families affected by aphasia.

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Partner: Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Amount: $40,000

Purpose: Funding was awarded to develop and open a Dementia Related Disorders Day Program to address the need for individuals and their caregivers dealing with dementia in the far west region of Ottawa (specifically Goulburn, West Carleton and Kanata).

The program provides respite care for the main caregiver of the senior as well as a day of activity for the senior. The program brings together six to ten seniors with a facilitator, an assistant and four to five trained volunteers. The day includes a hot lunch and snack, participation in various activities such as cards, board games, music and crafts and assistance with activities related to daily living such as shaves and personal appearance.

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Partner: Cumberland Home Support

Amount: $34,284

Purpose: Funding was awarded to expand an existing program designed to assist seniors (some of whom suffer from Alzheimer’s) and handicapped adults maintain their maximum level of functioning. The Foundation seed money now allows Cumberland Home Support to offer this program – which includes planned social and physical activities as well as a hot and nutritious lunch – for one additional day per week over a three-year period.

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Partner: Abbotsford Senior Centre

Amount: $40,000

Purpose: Co-located with the Glebe Centre, the Abbotsford Senior Centre serves adults in age from 55 to 95. There are two distinct components to its services:

  • services provided onsite (for both frail and well seniors), and
  • outreach or home care services that are provided within the homes of its clients.

Foundation funding allowed the Centre to add an additional day to its Alzheimer Day Away Program. Seniors in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and their caregivers benefit directly from the program. People afflicted with Alzheimer’s (in the early to middle stage) recognize they are no longer able to cope with the demands of daily life and understand, with what must be a terrifying reality, that their situation will only get worse.

Family members – both spouses and children – face the heartbreak of watching the very essence of their loved one slip away. And the primary caregiver (often a spouse) faces heroic and often exhausting challenges of keeping their loved one safe 24 hours a day.

Day programs have a proven, positive impact on Alzheimer’s sufferers and their ability to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. Abbotsford’s Alzheimer Day Away Program is designed to serve eight clients a day and now operates four days a week. Equally important, the program offers relief to caregivers and their families. The program allows clients to participate in activities that are varied, age appropriate and developed to capitalize on daily living – including preparing, serving and cleaning up after a meal.

At any given time, Abbotsford’s Alzheimer Day Away Program benefits up to 150 people in our community.

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Partner: The Hospice at May Court

Amount: $126,000

Purpose: The Hospice at May Court is a community-based organization committed to providing support and practical help for people and their families who are facing a life threatening illness, regardless of age, religion or culture. Its objectives are:

  • To ensure the patient’s pain, discomfort and anguish are alleviated as far as possible.
  • To ensure that the needs of the patients and their loved ones are addressed in all aspects, including physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual.
  • To help the patient remain alert and in control in a sympathetic environment, ideally in their own home.
  • To help the patients and their loved ones find answers to their questions, and advocate on their behalf.
  • To assist the bereaved in dealing with their grief.

The Foundation provided seed funding to expand the Hospice Day Away Program. This program provides emotional and physical support for terminally ill people and provides the caregiver with an opportunity for respite. In addition the Foundation contributed funds in support of the “House on The River” project, a nine bed end-of-life residential program for those in the final weeks of their illness and who do not need to be in a hospital setting.

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Partner: Palliative Care Outreach Program

Amount: $165,400 ($50,000 in October 2004)

Purpose: Funding was awarded to increase the caseload of this unique organization. After experiencing palliative care in an academic centre and in hospice centres, Dr. Margaret Farncombe founded the program after perceiving a need for terminally ill patients to be treated in their homes and to provide the expertise for families to assist in the care and decision-making of their loved ones. Without a penny of government funding or hospital support, the program launched in October 1997. A multidisciplinary team provides patient care, a clinic support staff that handles day-to-day running of the clinic and an active Board participates in the decisions regarding expansion and Program direction as it continues to thrive.

Approximately 80% all patients served by the program’s health care professionals receive service in their homes. In addition to terminally ill patients and their families, the following organizations benefit from the Palliative Care Outreach Program:

  • Acute care hospitals - with beds at a premium, the program allows people to be treated and rest at home;
  • Health care practitioners – Those not experienced in palliative care refer patients and their families to the program for assistance and advice;
  • The public health system as a whole – Community-based palliative care is much more cost-effective than maintaining people in institutions.

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