The commitment to those who serve must continue after service
November 11 is one of the most important days of the year at Perley Health. Our Remembrance Day ceremony brings together Veterans, their families, staff, volunteers and members of the community to honour those who have served our country. For the Veterans who live here, remembrance is deeply personal. Their years of service is part of their life stories, and the experiences and perspectives they bring continue to shape our communities today.
This year, Remembrance Day comes in the wake of a tragedy at CFB Wainwright. A fire during a training exercise on October 17 killed four Canadian Armed Forces members and injured 39 people. Our thoughts are with their families, fellow service members and everyone affected.
Remembrance Day also comes amid a renewed focus on national defence. As Canada works toward NATO's pledge to invest five per cent of GDP in defence and security by 2035, it is increasing its investment, strengthening its military and encouraging more people to consider a life in uniform.
And, when we ask people to serve, we have the responsibility to support them when their service ends and as they grow older. That promise matters to Veterans and their families. It also matters to the next generation considering military service.
Supporting Veterans as they age
The needs of older Veterans can be complex. Some may live with frailty or dementia alongside PTSD, hearing loss and other health conditions that can be associated with military service. Families may be navigating difficult decisions while managing the demands of caregiving.
Veterans have been part of Perley Health's community since the end of the Second World War. Our work includes long-term care, support for families and research into better care for older Veterans. A Veterans Affairs Canada-funded respite bedroom, for example, gives a Veteran's caregiver time to rest or attend to other responsibilities.
Our Centre of Excellence is currently leading a national project to create a bilingual resource hub for aging Veterans and their families and caregivers. Supported by Veterans Affairs Canada's Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, the project is intended to make information and resources easier to find and use across Canada, including in rural communities. It's one way research and practical experience can help address challenges that Canadian Veterans and families encounter beyond any one care setting.
Reaching more Veterans in the community
Perley Health is also working to reach more Veterans before they need long-term care. Our goal is to double the number of Veterans and Seniors we serve by 2035. To reach that goal, Perley Health is extending its services beyond campus so more Veterans and Seniors in the community can access support.
Living Well at Home, the Active Seniors and Veterans Living Centre, and the Nursing Home Without Walls pilot are examples of this work. They offer different ways to support people in the community, including Veterans who want to remain active, connected and at home. The Active Seniors and Veterans Living Centre, for example, includes programming specifically for Veterans.
We work as part of a broader network of support. Governments, healthcare and care providers, Veteran-serving organizations, families, friends and neighbours are already working together, each bringing valuable knowledge and experience. Continuing and strengthening that collaboration helps ensure that Veterans and their families can draw on connected support as needs change over time.
Alongside this work to reach more Veterans and Seniors, Perley Health is advancing a new model of long-term care through its Building for Belonging campaign. We are grateful to Commissionaires Ottawa for its historic $3-million gift to the Perley Health Foundation, the largest in its history, which supports the campaign and builds on more than three decades of partnership.
Carrying Remembrance forward
Remembrance Day gives us a moment to reflect on what our commitments to Veterans mean throughout the year. As Canada renews its defence commitments and encourages people to serve, we will stand behind those who have served and the families who support them. Perley Health will continue to contribute through care, community programs and research.
By Akos Hoffer, Chief Executive Officer, Perley Health
Akos Hoffer, Chief Executive Officer, Perley Health