Larry and Joy Pearson welcomed by members of St. Joseph’s Health Centre’s Rehabilitation Program in celebration of new the Occupational Therapy Kitchen.

As Guelph’s only rehabilitation hospital, people of all ages who have experienced a traumatic injury or health event come to St. Joseph’s Health Centre to heal, recover and reclaim their lives.

Recovering from a stroke, an illness, injury or surgery is hard work. It can require determination, courage, and relentless goal-setting to relearn simple tasks that may once have been taken for granted. And one of the best ways for patients to build strength and confidence is to be able to practice these every day tasks in a “real-life” space.

Now, thanks to a generous donation from the L.J. Pearson Foundation, patients at St. Joseph’s are benefitting from a new Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Kitchen where they are supported by rehab specialists to practice kitchen related skills customized to their personal style of cooking including food prep, managing utensils, storage and general kitchen safety.

“This is a very exciting enhancement to our rehabilitation programming”, shares Matt Smith, Interim VP, Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Executive. “Being able to function in a kitchen environment is a core goal many patients wish to reach in order to return home successfully. Before the new Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Kitchen, it could be challenging for patients to develop specific skills related to meal preparation. This new space is playing a vital role in supporting patients to reclaim their strength, their independence and their lives.”

Larry and Joy Pearson have a long history of supporting rehabilitation programs at St. Joseph’s. In fact, the new kitchen is located just inside the Pearson Motion Rehabilitation Garden which has been a cornerstone of St. Joe’s rehab program for over 10 years. “We are proud to support the specialized rehabilitation St. Joe’s provides” offered Larry. “We know any of us could find ourselves in need of these types of programs and we are fortunate to have them right here in our community.”

The new Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Kitchen is a true testament to what can be achieved when compassionate individuals and organizations come together to improve healthcare. “We are so grateful to The L.J. Pearson Foundation for their philanthropic leadership which is once again allowing us to reach new heights in rehabilitation care” shared Sera Filice, CEO of St. Joseph’s Foundation.

The newly renovated space was completed with several new appliances generously donated by Danby. It is now playing an important role in helping rehab patients reunite with the people, places and activities that mean the most to them.