VON has been touching lives of residents throughout the County of Chatham-Kent since 1938. VON’s Community and Home Support programs allow people in our community to remain independent in their homes. VON offers programs for all ages. Our Visiting Nursing and Home Support programs provide services from prenatal to end of life care. Community Support programs serve clients ages 4 to 18 through the Kid’s Circle program and from 18 years to end of life through Supportive Care Volunteer Visiting, Volunteer Visiting, Security Checks, SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together), In Home and Groups, SAFE (Seniors Active in Falls Education), Chronic Pain Assessment and Referral Program and the Ontario Student Nutrition Program. VON continues to develop an organizational End-of-Life Strategy that coincides with and augments the Chatham-Kent Community End-of-Life plan and also has representation on the Health Links Steering Committee.
VON Chatham-Kent is very well recognized for its services in the areas of Community Health and Community Support Services. The VON Chatham-Kent Site currently operates through the efforts of 235 volunteers, who are supported by 100 full and part time multidisciplinary staff. Our community partnerships are integral to our success. The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance partnership saves valuable health care dollars as they use our Supportive Care volunteers in their palliative units at the Chatham and Wallaceburg campuses. Our partnership with the Chatham-Kent Fire Department whereby ten of our volunteers were trained in Fire Safety Tips and Checklist, ensures that clients receive education and can remain safe in their homes. Most recently we have partnered with the St. Clair College Healthplex delivering exercise programs for seniors improving their functional status.
VON is a bilingual organization addressing linguistic needs of clients in both official languages. VON Chatham-Kent has volunteer Board members who assist to move the direction of the Branch forward to ensure we meet the community/regional needs of the clients we represent.
VON Geranium House opened its doors in 1996 to serve as a day hospice/supportive care centre providing programs and services to those with a life-threatening illness and their families and friends. In addition, the Kids’ Circle Program provides supportive care to children and teens from ages 4-18, who are facing a life-threatening illness themselves, the life-threatening illness of a loved one, or have experienced the loss of a loved one. VON also provides Grieving Well bereavement support groups which is an 8 week facilitated workshop to help those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. We are also a host site for Look Good Feel Better, helping women deal with the physical affects of chemotherapy. These are just samples of the innovative ways in which VON has responded to the needs of our community.
Community Support Services such as the Volunteer Visiting and Telephone Assurance security checks compliment the care provided by the staff in the Nursing and Home Support Programs. From seniors exercise and falls prevention education to the Chronic Pain Program, VON has successfully identified and created partnerships to ensure gaps in community care are resolved.
VON Chatham-Kent is supported by funding from the Ministry of Health, the Chatham-Kent United Way and the generosity of local business partners and individuals through our VON Chatham-Kent Foundation.