New hospice program brings community together

A new program introduced by the Windsor’s Hospice brings together art, fitness, social interaction, and most importantly members of the community. 

The social prescription program was started by social worker Micheal Bennett and his intern at the time, Tamerra Paterson. The program allows doctors at the Hospice Windsor to write prescriptions to fill patients or family members’ social needs within the community for free. 

“We just want to help the people in need, whatever their needs may be, and then remove some of the barriers that are associated with some of these community activities, like cost,” said Marina Pokrajac, coordinator of social work services at the hospice. 

Programs within the community that patients or family members can participate in include a month free pass to the YMCA, free passes to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and the Art Gallery of Windsor.  

An additional community partner with Hospice, Caesars Windsor, has been a long time supporter, and critical contributor in the start up of the program. Caesars Windsor has donated over $5000 towards the program. 

“Caesars is tremendously generous to us. They have provided funding to start the program. So it wouldn’t be happening without them,” said Pokrajac.

Susanne Tomkins, the Public Relations and Communications manager at Caesars Windsor said one of the unique aspects of social prescription that appealed to them was how the hospice was including other community partners into the program.  

 “It was our pleasure and honor to provide funding, so that hospice, who are experts in their field, can then provide that additional social component, so that it contributes to the overall health of our community,” said Tomkins.

While the program is new, so far the reaction to the program has been extremely positive, according to Pokrajac. 

Alene Abati, who is a social service worker intern at hospice, has seen first the positive reaction the program has had.

“So a lot of people, especially when their first told about it, they are really excited. A lot of them I’m seeing ‘oh wow to YMCA, to get a month membership’ that’s not something they would otherwise do. Like they wouldn’t want to put the investment in to be able to do that. So to get it from us, from a social prescription is really encouragement for them,” said Abati.