Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society will donate C$200,000 (US$158,000) to Villa Cathay Care Home to expand elderly-wellness and experience-enhancement programs in the inaugural year. Both parties will further explore programs to enhance the physical and mental wellness of the elderly for five years.

Villa Cathay Care Home specializes in delivering person-centered, culturally sensitive long-term care for seniors who have complex care needs. The gift from Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society will enable Villa Cathay Care Home to deliver the Resident Wellness Program by providing residents with more health discipline choices on-site, such as traditional Chinese acupuncture and registered massage therapy to promote positive physical and mental wellbeing. The program will also provide increased dedicated one-on-one activity time for residents, enhancing their level of engagement and sense of purpose.  

Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society will further support the Resident Experience Enhancement Program by assisting care staff to embody the person-centered philosophy in every aspect of care so that residents’ autonomy and personal choices can be honored as much as possible. Villa Cathay Care Home will also use a portion of the gift from Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society to purchase 10 tilt wheelchairs for residents who have compromised trunk control.

Robert Y. C. Ho, chair of the board of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society stated: “Since its establishment by my father, Robert H. N. Ho, in 1994, Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society has been committed to serving the community with our core values of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity through various charitable religious and educational programs. We aspire to work closely with Villa Cathay to raise public awareness of elderly well-being through our donation programs. With Villa Cathay’s experience serving the community over the past 40 years, our collaboration will explore impactful strategic care initiatives in the next five years to provide comprehensive physical and mental care to the seniors."

“Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society’s generous donation is a shining example of how the community can make a significant impact for our seniors,” said Lisa Donovan, chair of the board of Villa Cathay Care Home. “We are deeply grateful to Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society and Dr. H. N. Ho for enhancing and transforming senior care for generations to come!”

About Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society

Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society was established in 1994 by Robert H. N. Ho, C.M., O.B.C., grandson of Lady Clara Ho Tung. Through its physical establishment in Vancouver and internet portals, Robert H. N. Ho realizes Lady Clara’s grand visions to promote the Buddhist teachings globally. In addition to traditional religious rituals and assemblies, the society also promotes the teachings and practices of Buddhist wisdom and values through various public lectures, classes, and workshops, as well as other pioneering online initiatives. Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society and the Robert H. N. Ho family generously contribute to education, medical care, disaster relief, and other philanthropy, which adhere to the Robert Ho Tung family’s motto: “Before you can receive, you must learn how to give.” Robert H. N. Ho becomes the honorary chairman and Robert Y. C. Ho succeeded as chairman in 2020. For more information, please visit our website: tlkycs.buddhistdoor.com

About Villa Cathay Care Home

Established in 1973, Villa Cathay Care Home is the first non-profit care home that provides culturally focused care for Chinese seniors in the Strathcona neighbourhood near Chinatown in Vancouver. We strive to create a home-like environment where elderly residents can find comfort, love, respect, and dignity. To meet the growing demand for culturally focused long-term care, Villa Cathay Rejuvenation Project was launched in 2016 to build a 224-bed complex care home on the same site. The new Villa Cathay Care Home aims to promote residents’ privacy, sense of autonomy, and self-efficacy, while implementing care enhancement programs to elevate residents’ holistic wellness and quality of life. For more information, please visit our website: VillaCathay.ca