A newly launched pilot project, 'Bridging You Home,' jointly sponsored by the County of Dufferin and Orangeville's Lord Dufferin Centre, has its first local graduate in William Kelcher.

The program fulfilled its goal when Mr. Kelcher, its first participant, successfully moved back to his home in the community after a prolonged hospital stay.

The program was developed to assist seniors living in Dufferin to return home after a hospital admission.

When seniors are admitted to hospital and have lengthy stays, they begin to lose their functional abilities. Things they were used to doing prior to their hospital admission become more difficult because they are generally weaker, therefore increasing the risk of further complications.

In fact, research shows that "for each day a frail senior is in hospital, 5 per cent of their functioning is lost."

For seniors requiring a hospital admission, once their acute-care needs have been met, the best thing is for them to return to their own homes. For some, this may not be possible because they are in a weakened state and not able to function independently in their own homes.

In this case, the "Bridging You Home" program provides an opportunity for the senior to more thoroughly rehabilitate, for up to 21 days, in a more home-like setting.

In fact, their focus can be on rehabilitating while they are provided with accommodation, meals, care services, bathing, medication administration, a physiotherapy assessment, daily physiotherapy, housekeeping and the opportunity to actively participate in recreation programs in Lord Dufferin Centre.

Through this program, seniors will gain strength and increased independence which will better prepare them to more effectively manage within their own homes.

"This is an extremely exciting opportunity for us because we can see the difference we are able to make in seniors lives through facilitating a timely discharge back into the community," remarked Patricia Banks, nurse consultant at Lord Dufferin Centre.

For further information on this exciting program contact Ms. Banks at 519 941-8433.