Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Thursday, April 19, 2018

Today – Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries this morning then a mix of sun and cloud. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. High plus 5. UV index 5 or moderate.

Tonight – Clearing late this evening. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this evening. Low minus 1.

Box lunch fundraiser is today

The day of Box Lunch has arrived – thank you to all of our volunteers for waking up so early to assist us with making lunches this year and for McDonald’s Wallaceburg for providing the caffiene boost! #nationalvolunteerweek #clwboxlunch pic.twitter.com/Fe5a2Zig93

— CL Wallaceburg (@CLWallaceburg) 19 April 2018

Community Living Wallaceburg’s 18th Annual Box Lunch fundraiser is taking place today April 19th, 2018.

Lunches will be delivered to hundreds of workplaces, schools and homes across Chatham-Kent.

The program raises much-needed funds towards Community Living Wallaceburg and offers a wonderful opportunity for the people supported, employees and volunteers to work shoulder to shoulder in preparing and delivering the Box Lunches.

“A key part to this fundraiser’s success is not only the support we receive from our generous sponsors and people who purchase lunches, but to the many volunteers who assist every year,” said Lisa Caron, Communications and Fund Development Specialist for Community Living Wallaceburg.

“Volunteers arrive at 6 a.m. ready to assemble and pack the lunches and then deliver them throughout Chatham-Kent and into Lambton County.”

Last year was a record breaking year for the event, as they they handled 1,900 lunch orders and stopped at over 250 locations to drop off lunches.

Watch for coverage about the event on the Sydenham Current.

Lowering wait times in Ontario hospitals

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne was at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre this week to explain how the government’s investment of nearly $19 billion in health care and an expanded innovative bundled care program will help reduce wait times at Ontario hospitals.

Premier Wynne highlighted the government’s commitment, which represents an increase of $822 million, or 4.6 per cent, in funding for day-to-day operations. This will allow hospitals to invest with more precision in the care and supports that further reduce wait times and address the specific needs of their patients and community.

“What I hear from people across Ontario is that they want to be sure that when they need health care, they’ll be able to get it,” Wynne said in a press release.

“I completely agree, and that’s why we’re working hard to reduce wait times at hospitals across the province by making major new investments in our health care system and by developing new and innovative approaches to care. Our investments will mean hospitals can help more patients, and the bundled care program will mean faster recovery times and a better transition from surgery for tens of thousands of people across Ontario. Put together, they will mean one thing: more space at hospitals to care for people when they need it.”

Provincial officials say patients will benefit from these increased investments through reduced wait times for hip, knee, cataract, shoulder, cornea and spine surgery. This will also give hospitals the resources to expand essential services such as cardiac care, critical care, chemotherapy and treatment for strokes.

Premier Wynne also explained how the government is tackling wait times at hospitals by expanding Ontario’s Bundled Care Program, which will help patients return home sooner after surgery and reduce emergency room visits and hospital readmissions.

This innovative approach will play an important role in freeing up space in health care facilities by helping patients transition from hospital to home faster and with the right supports. Bundled care coordinates services and integrates funding for a patient’s full spectrum of care for a specific health issue — from the hospital right through to follow-up home care.

“As our population grows and evolves, we must change our health care system to adapt to new realities,” stated Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

“Ontario’s $19 billion health care investment and new, innovative programs will ensure our health partners have the tools they need to provide the best, and fastest, care.”

Ontario tested the bundled care model through a successful pilot program. Based on the success of an initial six sites, the program will now expand to 24 health care teams providing care of hip and knee surgery patients. In 2018-19, this expansion is expected to help more than 20,000 patients, increasing overall efficiency and freeing up hospital beds for more patients.

More details:

– Hospital operating funding in Ontario has increased by more than 65.3 per cent, from $11.3 billion in 2003-04 to almost $19 billion in 2018-19.

– As part of this, the government is investing $187 million to reduce wait times by adding more hospital beds including new medical and surgical beds, mental health beds and beds for long‐term ventilated patients.
The government has committed $25 million in 2018–19 to expanding the bundled care program to 24 communities. Early results from the pilot program showed reduced visits to the emergency department by more than 15 per cent within a 30-day period after surgery.

– Starting with $50 million in 2018–19, the government is providing $300 million over three years in new funding for long-term care, which will allow every home to hire a registered nurse, and sets a goal of increasing the provincial average to four hours of daily care per resident by 2022.

New and enhanced benefits and services for veterans

Starting April 1, 2018, new and enhanced benefits will be able to help veterans build on their service.

More detaios hve been released about:

– Education and Training

– Financial Security

– Families and Well-Being

Education and Training

Career Transition Services: During your service, you developed skills and knowledge that can help you in a new career. The Career Transition Services Program can help you find a career that is best suited for you.

Education and Training Benefit: The Education and Training Benefit provides funding for you to achieve your education and career goals. You may be eligible to receive up to $80,000 in funding. Whether you are furthering your education journey or just beginning a new one, this is the perfect place to start.

Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program: Survivors, spouses and common-law partners no longer have a one-year time limit to apply to this program which helps address their future rehabilitation and vocational needs.

Financial Security

Veterans Emergency Fund: Emergencies can happen at any moment. If you or your family needs financial help with an emergency, contact us. We may be able to provide short-term relief.

Families and Well-Being

Caregiver Recognition Benefit: Is there an informal caregiver who plays an important role in your well-being? The Caregiver Recognition Benefit may be available and directly pays caregivers $1,000 per month, tax-free.

Centre of Excellence on PTSD and related Mental Health conditions: The Centre of Excellence will conduct applied research, create and share newly created knowledge, and develop tools to support the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions that impact Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and their families.

Veteran Family Program: Support of families is essential for Veterans and their well-being. The Veteran Family Program will find you the right programs and services for your needs whether it is information about local community groups, transition programs, referrals or intervention support.

Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund: Does your organization have a bold and innovative idea that will have a positive impact on Veteran and family well-being? We are investing in ideas with impact.

For more details, click here.