FICCDAT Conference

Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) June 5 – 8, 2011 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Find out more. Visit the website www.ficcdat.ca

Henson Trust

Caring for a family member with a disability, and planning for their support for a whole lifetime, is a big responsibility. It poses special problems and challenges.

A trust can be an ideal solution if you want to provide some money for a relative. With a trust, your loved one can continue to receive ODSP benefits. The trust money can help with extra expenses such as items and services they need, and holidays.

This brochure outlines the Henson Trust, a Reena partner.

Spotlight on Transformation

A Developmental Services Bulletin from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The current version may be downloaded here. English French

Copies of Spotlight on transformation may be found here.

A new era was ushered in with the opening of Reena's new Elder Home on September 30, 2007. David Smuschkowitz and his wife Luba were given a tour of Reena's second home which bears their name in recognition of their lead gift and leadership role to raise the funds for the facility.

Reena's newest residence at Weldrick and Bathurst, in Richmond Hill, across from UJA Federation's new Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus, provides a home for older adults with developmental disabilities.

During their visit, the Smuschkowitz's were introduced to the first of ten seniors who will live in the carefully designed spacious home. They met with three Reena clients whose group homes were no longer adequate for their growing needs. They also met Leonard Andrews, now 58 years old, who had lived in the Huronia Regional Centre for 50 of those years.

Currently five seniors are living in their new home and in the coming months, five more who are currently in institutions, will make the ElderHome a full house.

Having people with similar support needs living together allows them to thrive as active members of their community. Hence, the house is equipped with an elevator, wheelchair accessible washrooms, a state of the art therapeutic bath tub, ceiling tracks for motorized lifts in each room to assist people in wheel chairs and a wandering persons alert system to ensure safety for individuals who require this extra support.

Residents who are able, and wish to do so, attend Reena's day programs for older adults at the Toby and Henry Battle Developmental Centre. Staff is on hand for those who choose to remain at the ElderHome or are too frail to participate. The home is situated beside Conservation Authority land with pleasant scenic routes for a wheelchair outing.

“It is heart warming to see that seniors who have a developmental disability have such a fine and welcoming place to live in as they age,” said David Smuschkowitz. “I have to thank my friend Alex Eisen for persuading me to become involved,” he added.

Last updated March 2, 2009, reviewed Thursday, September 2, 2010