NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY
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MIDHURST – In March 2021, county long-term care homes began seeking donations of tablets and Smart TVs to support with enhanced virtual programming and engagement needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While a number of items were generously donated by members of the community, the county applied for and were ultimately awarded a grant through the “New Horizons for Seniors” program, which is a Federal grants and contributions program. This grant provides funding for projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and in their communities.
This $25,000 grant will be used to purchase additional Smart TVs and tablets to increase virtual programming capacity to vulnerable seniors residing in Sunset Village, Simcoe Village, Georgian Village and Trillium Manor, helping to improve social connections and mental health.
“Over the past 21 months, our long-term care and seniors services residents have and continue to face many changes, including being isolated from their loved ones in order to keep residents and staff safe,” said Warden George Cornell. “We are grateful to the Federal Government for investing in community-based programs such as this grant initiative. By using video chat applications like Skype and FaceTime, residents can see and speak with a family member across the world, helping to make the challenges of COVID a little easier to bear.”
Given the prevalence of the Omicron variant across the province, this equipment will continue to play a vital role in stimulating and promoting social participation and inclusion for vulnerable seniors, while also protecting vulnerable residents and staff.
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