A Hospice in Lockport
A Hospice in Lockport, New York has received a $30,000 grant to assist with dementia patients’ services for the patients themselves as well as families and caregivers.
The grant has been awarded by the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Benefit Fund
The Odd Fellow and Rebekah Benefit fund was established after the sale of a health care facility known as ODD FELLOW & REBEKAH REHABILITATION and HEALTH CARE FACILITY. The foundation mission is to:
“To make, establish, solicit, collect receive, hold, invest reinvest, distribute, and disburse donations, subscriptions, gifts, bequests, Scholarships, Grants, and other funds to support individuals, programs and/or services committed to the enhancement of community, and civic endeavors consistent with the tenets of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs”.
The fund serves 18 counties in New York, including:
- Allegany
- Cattaraugus
- Cayuga
- Chautauqua
- Chemung
- Erie
- Genesee
- Livingston
- Monroe
- Niagra
- Ontario
- Orleans
- Schuyler
- Seneca
- Steuben
- Wayne
- Wyoming
- Yates
Niagara Hospice says that this grant will help in several areas, especially enabling the staff to be able to achieve dementia practitioner certification as well as to pursue continuing educational opportunities to enhance their overall clinical knowledge of dementia care. which will allow them to further serve their patients. The grant funds will also provide for a resource library for families and caregivers.
Danielle Burngasser, RN, BSN who is the vice president of hospice clinical operations said that this grant will allow the hospice too better serve their patients: “This new funding is a tremendous investment that accelerates our ability to provide more nurses, social workers, and aides with the latest training in the most effective dementia caregiving methods,”
Burgasser continued on to say:
“Our clinical staff is committed to meet the rising demands that accompany the care plans for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia,” Burgasser said. “It gives us great pride to share the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Benefit Fund’s devotion to serving Niagara County families who are struggling with dementia care.”
Niagra Hospice has seen a significant surge in the number of dementia patients that it sees, in the last two years at least 30% of their patients had some level of diagnosed dementia.