Acclaim Health, a local charity, is transforming dementia care in Halton by creating a new, state-of-the-art dementia care centre.
To fund the new 15,000 square foot centre that will be located at 2250 Speers Road and is expected to open in mid-2020, Acclaim Health has launched a $5million Building Better Days campaign. Over 50 per cent of the funding has already been raised through the generosity of the community, including a lead $1,000,000 gift from the Warren Y. Soper Charitable Trust.
“My father would be very proud to be contributing to the community in this way,” said Jane Soper Kennedy, from the Warren Y. Soper Charitable Trust. “My family has had personal experience with both dementia and the care that Acclaim Health provides, and I am happy to be involved in expanding the high-quality services families need.”
On Friday, local MPP Stephen Crawford, MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos and Mayor Rob Burton stopped by to meet with the staff and supporters of the organization to learn more about the project. At the event, MPP Crawford took a moment to congratulate Acclaim Health on receiving a $150,000 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that will help with the project.
“I am pleased to announce that Acclaim Health has received a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help with the purchase of a building to house a new dementia care centre. This will open-up a wide range of services for those with dementia and their care-givers. It’s wonderful to see the community coming together around the Building Better Days campaign and as your MPP, I will continue to work hard to ensure that Oakville remains the best place, to work, live, and raise a family,” said Stephen Crawford, MPP for Oakville.
Additional lead gifts have come from The Walmley Foundation as well as the Cockwell and Marks Families, who have created the Cockwell Marks Major Gifts Match to add $1 for every $3 raised in major gifts to the fund. An anonymous family has agreed to add $1 for every $3 raised in community donations to the fund.
The centre will usher in a new era of dementia care and will include an expanded Adult Day Program in Oakville to serve more clients, provide more days of care and replace the current program offered at the Sheridan campus. As well, there will be eight short stay overnight respite beds, increased caregiver support for families and the building will feature innovative best practices in dementia care from around the world.
“Families are struggling to care for their loved ones with dementia,” said Angela Brewer, Acclaim Health CEO. “Waiting lists for our current programs are almost a year-long, and without short stay overnight respite beds in Halton, it is extremely difficult for families to get any kind of significant break from caregiving.”
Given that older adults are Halton’s fastest growing population – expected to increase by 90 per cent in the next 12 years (Halton Region Older Adult Plan 2015-2018) – the need for more dementia care is urgent.
“I would like to express my support and congratulate Acclaim Health on acquiring the site for their new state-of-the-art dementia care centre. With an aging population, there is a growing need for dementia care and this innovative centre will ensure that our loved ones will have access to programs and services here in Oakville,” said Mayor Rob Burton.
“As you can see, it’s the support of many community leaders, donors, volunteers, neighbours and families that will make the dream of extraordinary dementia care a reality in Oakville,” added Hugh Pauwels, Chair of the Building Better Days campaign. “We’re so grateful to all of those who have helped us reach this important milestone.”
To support the campaign, visit the Acclaim Health website at www.acclaimhealth.ca or contact Melissa Cameron at [email protected] or 905-827-8800 x2040.
Acclaim Health is a registered charity providing home health care, dementia care, caregiver support, social support, fall prevention, hospice and bereavement support, companionship and palliative care education in Halton for over 85 years. Our commitment to extraordinary community care has earned us exemplary standing – the highest possible – through Accreditation Canada, and we are also accredited with the Imagine Canada Standards program.
Ontario Trillium Foundation: The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $120 million to some 700 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.