A hospital is often a difficult place to find hope. It’s hard enough to overcome the physical and health challenges that come with the diagnosis of a neurological illness or injury. For many of the more than 2,300 patients admitted to The Neuro each year, this challenge is further worsened by the financial difficulties that come as a direct result of their diagnosis.
Thankfully, The Neuro Cares Fund is there to help. Created in 2012 and overseen by The Neuro’s Social Services team, the Fund provides financial support to those in need. By providing assistance to cover expenses such as groceries, medication, utilities, transportation, medical equipment, and more, the Fund helps relieve stress and allows patients to concentrate on what matters most - their health and their family.
“As social workers, we witness firsthand how financial pressure and uncertainty can overwhelm a patient’s ability to cope and worsen the impact of their diagnosis. Through The Neuro Cares Fund, we can help alleviate some of this stress for our neediest patients,” explains Mia Lanno, Clinical Coordinator.
The program also funds initiatives that aim to improve hospital stay for patients, such as the distribution of welcome kits (which include toiletries, sanitary products and entertainment like Sudoku books or crossword puzzles), television rentals, and the delivery of holiday baskets for patients and their families.
Private donations are the lifeblood of The Neuro Cares Fund as the program is entirely donor-funded. This important service continues to exist only thanks to the generosity of donors who make annual or monthly gifts, as well as staff who contribute through regular payroll pledges.
The Neuro Cares Fund has also benefitted from the support of foundations and corporations such as The Friends of The Neuro and DRW Montreal, who selected the program as a beneficiary of their 2018 Holiday Giving Challenge. Together, they raised more than $5,000 this past holiday season for the program.
“The Neuro Cares Fund is special because every dollar that goes into the fund directly helps a patient in need,” says Lanno. “The degree to which we have been able to assist our patients and their families would never have been possible otherwise. For that we are truly grateful.”
