Recognizing courage and change

It started with a song.

The Veterans choir welcomed a room of donors, friends and fellow Veterans for St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation’s annual Hall of Heroes event. This special occasion honours the steadfast generosity of the community and the remarkable spirit of Canada’s Veterans.

Since assuming responsibility for Veteran care in 1980, St. Joseph’s Veterans Care Program located at Parkwood Institute has been home hundreds of Veterans, service men and women. For decades, donor support has played a vital role in helping create warm, dignified living environments and ensuring residents receive the respect and quality of care they have earned through their service.

“Your generosity has a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of the Veterans who call Parkwood Institute and the Western Counties Wing home,” shared Sandy Jansen, Vice President of Patient Care and Risk Management, during the Hall of Heroes event. 

Jansen reflected on the many enhancements made possible through donor generosity – from specialized equipment and furnishings to special outings such as London Knights games, airshows and the moving Veterans Day ceremony at the Cenotaph. 

This past year, donor gifts supported the purchase of new, custom wardrobes for each of the residents’ rooms, new mattresses, sit-to-stand chairs, televisions and a lovely candlelit concert that brought the Veterans comfort, connection and joy.

Powering communication and care

A special presentation about one of the clinical support programs for Veterans was featured at the event. The program’s speech-language pathology team, made up of Sarah Tripp, Julie Pridoehl and Nicole Campbell, shared how communication, hearing and swallowing care influence independence and quality of life.

Pridoehl, a communicative disorders assistant, spoke about the importance of hearing support. She emphasized how something we may take for granted, like our hearing, greatly impacts our quality of life and our ability to form connections. She described how a pocket talker, a portable personal sound amplifier that improves listening in difficult situations by amplifying sounds closest to the listener and reducing background noise, has helped a Veteran in their care who had stopped speaking due to hearing loss. Thanks to the device, the Veteran has been able to reconnect with loved ones and his community again.

Tripp, a speech-language pathologist, highlighted communication as a foundation of meaningful living, where it supports the learning of new things, interacting with loved ones and advocating for ourselves. She also described communication groups that engage Veterans with dementia through sensory-based activities, helping them navigate new challenges – all thanks to donor support.

“Our philosophy is to bring joy, independence and connection to the residents of the Veterans Care Program,” the team affirmed, and this philosophy is made possible through every act of generosity from donors.

A wall of impact

The Hall of Heroes event included the unveiling of a revamped donor wall. The original wall had reached its capacity, a remarkable testament to the heartfelt donor support shown over the years.

In unveiling the new wall, donors are recognized for their past generosity and the incredible momentum that continues today in the commitment to honouring Veterans with dignity, respect and the highest quality of care.

Through continued donor generosity, the Veterans Care Program is able to continue to advance the services and support that enriches the lives of those who have served. Michelle Campbell, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave a gift to Veterans Care this past year. 

“Our mission continues and we are here to stay,” Campbell said, closing out the event. “Thank you for your support and the important difference that you make in the lives of our Veterans.”