IOOF Seniors Homes Awarded $51,784 Grant to Improve Outdoor Accessibility for Seniors

(Barrie, ON – Tuesday, May 21, 2024) The IOOF Seniors Homes is a selected recipient of a generous $51,784 grant that will go towards the re-construction of a main outdoor garden walkway to ensure accessibility for residents at the IOOF’s Heritage Place supportive housing facility (20 Brooks Street, Barrie). This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Enabling Accessibility Fund.

Many assisted living residents are living with reduced mobility and use wheelchairs or walkers. The original garden walkway and outdoor space has cracked and heaved attributed to the harsh Canadian winters, resulting in residents not being able to access the space due to limited mobility. The new garden walkway will benefit the health and well-being of residents by allowing them to enjoy the outdoor space including social activities, exercising, and access to the gardens during the warmer months.

Ensuring accessibility is an essential component of the IOOF’s commitment to a Resident First philosophy of ongoing quality, caring, and improvements to meet the needs of residents.

“Our care team provides the highest level of care to our residents, and as a not-for-profit seniors home in Barrie, we are sincerely grateful to receive a grant from the Canadian Government that will help to ensure our residents are able to continue enjoying outdoor activities and an active lifestyle,” said Garry Hopkins, CEO, IOOF Seniors Homes.

Construction will begin this spring/summer on the garden walkway, and residents will be able to enjoy the new outdoor space and garden trail later in the season.

The IOOF Seniors Homes is undertaking additional projects that align with their Resident First philosophy of Care to enhance resident spaces and address sustainability issues for an aging population and increased demand for long-term care in the community. The IOOF has embarked on the largest capital project in their history and launched a redevelopment campaign to expand their long-term care facility (10 Brooks Street, Barrie). The project will create sixty-four new long-term care beds and sixty-six upgraded beds, with modern spaces, updated equipment, private rooms, and increased square footage. When completed, the long- term care home will be a 226-bed facility.

Caring is our reason for being...IOOF Seniors Homes Inc. (IOOF) is a not-for-profit organization, currently operating several facilities located in Barrie, Ontario, and has been serving the needs of Ontario residents for over 100 years. The IOOF provides exemplary accommodation, programs, and health care services to residents through an effective continuum of support that promotes independence and well-being through the latter stages of life.