A three-year $507,500 grant for the Close to Home seniors program will soon expire, and officials are hopeful new funding will help them expand the program in northern Wellington County.
Mapleton Clerk Patty?Sinnamon recently told council the township, as the lead for the program, will be seeking three more years worth of funding from the Waterloo-Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
The Mapleton program was one of 20 in the network’s catchment area to receive a grant in February 2008.
The township received $143,900 in 2008-09, $184,300 in 2009-10 and $179,300 in 2010-11 to provide for seniors in Minto, Mapleton and Wellington North a coordinated approach to services, including transportation, preventive care, friendly visits, exercise programs, social and recreation programs and one-on-one support programs.
Sinnamon said she recently met with an advisory group, and officials hope to meet with LHIN chief executive officer Sandra Hanmer in September to discuss extending the program with more funding.
She noted preliminary discussions with the LHIN have been very favourable, as network officials are “very pleased” with the Close to Home program and the number of local seniors it has reached.
