The residents of Maison du Père, like all elderly people
living in a seniors’ residence in the red zone, have been greatly affected in their daily activities over the past fifteen months: confinement, meals served in trays to their room instead of the service in the cafeteria, suspension of
supervised group activities, etc. This situation exacerbated the problems already present for many of them.
Fortunately, rule relaxations were made last June by the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux following the administration of the second dose of the vaccine. Wearing
a mask and social distancing are still required, but many social activities have been resumed.
This comeback was accompanied by the rejuvenation of the Residence terrace, which was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Grace Dart Foundation. Residents now benefit from more pleasant spaces that are better
suited to the needs of people with reduced mobility.
The mission of the Grace Dart Foundation is to ensure
the well-being of seniors in the Greater Montreal area. It was therefore sensitive to the approach of Maison du Père
with regard to its practices with the elders of the streets permanently accommodated in its residence: improving their overall health, breaking their isolation, developing healthier lifestyle habits and encouraging them to have fun while sober.
The Grace Dart Foundation will also help refurbish the
bathrooms in the Residence over the coming months so that they are better suited to the reality of our elderly men
losing their autonomy.
As you know, development projects, including the creation of a new residence for seniors from the streets, are about to see the light of day.
These projects require a significant investment in both
capital and operating costs, including those related to
response and support personnel. In recent years, we have succeeded in obtaining significant financial support from the various levels of government. However, we could not achieve this without the support of foundations and private donors sensitive to the needs of the men we support.
Thank you to all of you who make it possible that every street finds an exit, in dignity!