Community Walk to Wellness celebrates LTC & community engagement
It may have been Friday the 13th, but for peopleCare, September 13 this year felt like a day of good fortune. Our annual Community Walk to Wellness, held alongside the first-ever provincial Long-Term Care (LTC) Community Engagement Day on the 13th, brought together over 650 participants across our homes, including residents, staff, families, volunteers, and community partners.
Together, we celebrated the life-enriching experiences, care and innovative programs that make peopleCare homes unique. The walk allowed participants to enjoy the outdoors, get some healthy steps in and engage with the neighborhoods around our homes while shining a light on the importance of LTC in supporting seniors.
Many family members came out to walk with their loved one
Sheena Campbell, VP of Communications and Engagement at peopleCare, praised the efforts of staff, “Our teams did a fabulous job planning and hosting the walk and tours for our elected officials, showcasing the amazing experiences we create in the homes and the vital role of LTC in meeting the needs of seniors.”
With strong support from municipal, provincial, and federal leaders, the event fostered deeper connections between local government officials and peopleCare’s communities. MPs, MPPs, Mayors and Councillors from Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Cambridge, Kitchener Centre, London West, Meaford, Norfolk and East Zorra-Tavistock participated, showing their commitment to supporting LTC and the seniors that it serves.
L-R Tavistock LTC ED Deb, Mayor Phil Schaefer, Brent and Heather Gingerich, Deputy Mayor Brad Smith
LTC Community Engagement Day, spearheaded by the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, aimed to achieve several important goals: showcasing the quality of care and innovation in LTC homes, highlighting the challenges and solutions needed to support seniors, ensuring LTC is prioritized in the 2025 provincial budget and strengthening local relationships with elected officials. Across Ontario, more than 80 LTC homes participated, and early feedback indicated to OLTCA that government officials are eager to learn more about the services provided, the infrastructure needs of LTC homes, and how they can help ensure LTC is sustainable and effective.
Along with providing essential care for seniors with complex needs, peopleCare LTC homes reduce pressures on community health services, such as reducing hospital waitlists for those who no longer need acute care. Many of our homes are among the largest employers in their communities, providing meaningful employment opportunities and contributing to our local economies. We also strive to cultivate meaningful social relationships, holistic wellbeing and true community as our compass to enrich lives.
“Our homes are vibrant and welcoming because we deeply value community engagement and the meaningful connections we have with our residents, families, and local partners,” Campbell added. “Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 13 to support our residents and team members. Your involvement is crucial as we continue to advocate for the future of LTC and work together to transform the experiences of those who live and work in our homes.”
