An artist at work. PHOTO PROVIDED

Hope Healthcare’s Hope Connections program was recently awarded a $75,000 grant from NextFifty Initiative, a Colorado-based foundation that supports efforts to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers. This funding will allow Hope to advance its effort to support those 50 and older in Southwest Florida through Hope Connections, a comprehensive program providing meals, transportation, help with homemaking, chores and personal care, and other vital services to seniors in Clewiston, LaBelle and Moore Haven.

“We’re committed to meeting the unique and varied needs of older adults in our area and growing the Hope Connections program so we can care for even more seniors,” said Samira K. Beckwith, president and CEO of Hope Healthcare. “We are honored by this grant from NextFifty Initiative, which will help us continue to provide special care for at-risk seniors living in Hendry and Glades counties.”

Hope offers transportation to their centers and other essential appointments, as well as help for homemaking, chores and personal care. A personal emergency response system, medical equipment, supplies and home modifications allow seniors to stay safely at home. Hope also offers vital support for caregivers and counseling services.

Enrollment in Hope Connections is administered by the Area Agency on Aging. For information on Hope Connections, call the Elder Helpline at 866-413-5337.

“We’re grateful for the work that Hope Healthcare is doing to improve quality of life for people aged 50 and older,” said Diana McFail, president and CEO of NextFifty Initiative. “Older adults are vital to building and maintaining strong and healthy communities. We’re proud to support this and other efforts to help people age with dignity and purpose.”

With more than 40 years of experience as a local, not-for-profit healthcare organization, Hope Healthcare is dedicated to providing care and comfort for people in life’s closing chapter. A compassionate team of staff and volunteers offers practical, spiritual and emotional support for the entire family. For more information about Hope Healthcare, including programs such as Hope Hospice and Hope Kids Care, visit HopeHCS.org.

NextFifty Initiative is a Colorado-based, private foundation supporting efforts to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers. The foundation works with community leaders, experts in the field of aging, and front-line professionals to support programs and projects that positively impact aging and longevity. They focus on education, sharing best practices, and supporting innovation that will transform aging for generations to come. To learn more, visit www.Next50Initiative.org.