HomeCare & Hospice Awarded Wilson Foundation Grant to Support Local Caregivers
HomeCare & Hospice Awarded Wilson Foundation Grant to Support Local Caregivers
New program offers personalized care packages to ease the emotional load.
HomeCare & Hospice Awarded Wilson Foundation Grant to Support Local Caregivers
OLEAN - HomeCare & Hospice has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to pilot a new initiative that supports the emotional well-being of caregivers. The grant will help provide customized self-care packages for 100 caregivers in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Wyoming counties.
The new program, titled The Comfort Connection: Caring for Grievers and Caregivers, aims to address the often-overlooked emotional toll of caregiving. While hospice patients receive comprehensive support from HomeCare & Hospice’s care teams, caregivers frequently set aside their own needs to focus entirely on their loved ones. This program is designed to change that.
“Caregivers are the unsung heroes of end-of-life care,” said Melissa Sullivan, CEO of HomeCare & Hospice. “This grant allows us to acknowledge their sacrifices and provide them with resources that encourage rest, reflection, and self-care. Supporting caregivers isn’t just good practice - it’s essential to holistic hospice care.”
The self-care packages will include thoughtful items based on each caregiver’s preferences - such as books, relaxation tools, or movie tickets - offering both comfort and a reminder that their well-being matters, too.
“As a hospice social worker, I see every day how emotionally demanding caregiving can be,” said Hanna Nunn, LMSW, HomeCare & Hospice Social Worker. “These care packages are a small but meaningful way to say, ‘You are not alone. You deserve care, too.’”
The Comfort Connection initiative will roll out over the coming months, with the goal of refining and potentially expanding the program in the future. The agency hopes that the positive response will lead to sustained funding and even broader community partnerships. This pilot program reflects the broader mission of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds to support caregivers and improve quality of life for those providing essential care in their communities.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds were established at the Community Foundation to provide support to four areas that were important to Mr. Wilson: caregivers, community assets, design and access, and youth sports. Endowment funds, like these created to honor Mr. Wilson, are designed to grow over time and provide funding for charitable causes according to a client’s wishes.
About Community Care of Western New York / HomeCare & Hospice: Since 1971, Community Care of Western New York (CCWNY), operating as HomeCare & Hospice, has delivered a broad range of services to patients in their homes or residences. As the only Medicare-certified hospice in the region and a nonprofit 501(c)(3), HomeCare & Hospice is committed to helping patients pass with dignity, respect, and compassion. CCWNY also provides home health care, bereavement services, caregiver support, and education. For more information, visit www.homecare-hospice.org or contact 716-372-2106.