Archive for category: Our Stories

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara (NOHT-ÉSON) acknowledges that the coroner’s inquest into the death of Heather Winterstein is now underway. The inquest is expected to provide an important opportunity to examine the circumstances surrounding Heather’s death, identify systemic issues that may have contributed to it, and inform recommendations that can help improve care, support Indigenous health, and address anti-Indigenous racism across the health care system.

Heather, a 24-year-old First Nations woman from the Cayuga Nation with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River, went to hospital in St. Catharines on December 9, 2021, with severe back pain. She returned on December 10, 2021, and later died in hospital.

The NOHT-ÉSON recognizes the profound impact of this loss on Heather’s family, Indigenous communities, and all those committed to advancing safer, more equitable care. The network remains committed to listening and learning from the inquest proceedings and from any recommendations that may emerge.

As a partnership focused on improving integrated care across Niagara, the NOHT-ÉSON will consider the findings carefully for their relevance to care coordination, system navigation, Indigenous health, and efforts to address anti-Indigenous racism in health and social care.

The NOHT-ÉSON has previously affirmed its commitment to Indigenous health, equity, reconciliation, and culturally safer care. That commitment remains unchanged.

The network will continue to work in allyship with Indigenous partners and communities, and with health and social care organizations across Niagara, to support meaningful system improvement and help ensure Indigenous voices remain a priority in care planning and delivery.

The NOHT-ÉSON acknowledges the sensitivity of the inquest process and extends its respect to Heather Winterstein’s family, loved ones, and all those participating in the proceedings.

Niagara Falls, ON – The Let’s Go Home (LEGHO) program in Niagara has received an additional $125,000 in one-time funding from the Ministry of Health to support clients through March 31, 2026. This investment builds on the program’s $500,000 base funding, helping expand capacity at a time when demand continues to grow.

LEGHO supports eligible older adults (65+) in hospital with a stable, non-emergency health condition and older adults (65+) living with dementia to return home safely after a hospital stay—and, where appropriate, to prevent avoidable hospital admissions—through a six-week bundle of coordinated community supports.

To date this fiscal year, 315 clients qualified for the program. The incremental funding is expected to support at least 50 additional clients.

“An emergency department visit can start at about $3,000 a day,” said Nadia White, Program Manager with Happy in My Home, Community Support Services of Niagara, lead organization for the NOHT-ÉSON initiative. “By comparison, a six-week bundle of services can be a more cost-effective way to help someone recover, regain confidence, and live independently at home.”

LEGHO is delivered through a coordinated network of partners. Niagara Health plays a key role by identifying eligible patients and initiating referrals through hospital discharge planning, while working collaboratively with community partners on process improvements and efficient transitions.

“Our Home First approach guides how we plan care once a patient no longer needs hospital-level services,” said Lisa Hildebrand, Niagara Health’s Director of Access and Flow and Regional Stroke Program.

“Hospitals are not the right place for recovery when care can be safely and appropriately provided at home, where patients are often more comfortable and supported. This investment is timely and important. It helps ensure people receive care in the right setting, at the right time, based on their clinical needs, while allowing hospitals to focus on delivering safe, high-quality care for patients who truly need to be here.”

For individuals living with cognitive impairment, the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region provides specialized dementia-focused navigation services and caregiver respite for the program’s dementia stream, reflecting its expertise in dementia care.

“People living with dementia do best in familiar surroundings, not in busy hospital settings where symptoms can worsen,” said Teena Kindt, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region.

“Supporting individuals to return home quickly and safely helps preserve their independence and reduces unnecessary stress. Through LEGHO, families are connected to our dementia specialized services much earlier, and care partners receive in‑home respite to ensure no one is navigating this journey alone.”

In addition, the program’s community delivery model leverages partnerships with Meals on Wheels agencies across Niagara to support food security for clients, and brokered supports through home maintenance/repair services that can assist in complex situations such as hoarding-related safety concerns.

Program staff report that funding comes at an optimal time, as referrals are increasing due to cold and flu season.

“We’re seeing referrals come in quickly,” said Cherie Della-Gatta, LEGHO Supervisor. “This funding bump will be beneficial to many people, and our team has put strategies in place to ensure we can respond and support as many individuals as possible.”

As the program has matured, partners have refined service design to better match local needs—through the introduction of Safety at Home assessments to reduce fall risk and promote safe living environments.

LEGHO is designed to be flexible and client-led. The six-week bundle includes a minimum of three services, and clients may choose which supports best meet their needs (for example, Meals on Wheels, homemaking, transportation, respite and/or safety recommendations).

The program also supports caregivers by helping families understand available community services and navigate options beyond the initial six-week period.

“Even though it’s a six-week bundle, we often see people stay connected to supports long-term because families learn what’s available and how to access it,” said Della-Gatta.