HomeCare & Hospice Delivers Sunshine to Patients with Local Sunflowers

Regional

Sep 16

HomeCare & Hospice Delivers Sunshine to Patients with Local Sunflowers

Locally grown sunflowers donated by Medical Director Dr. Matt Mathanakaran bring a special touch of comfort to hospice patients

PHOTO CAPTION: HomeCare & Hospice senior leadership team members joined Medical Director Dr. Thayaparan “Dr. Matt” Mathanakaran in his fields to harvest more than 200 sunflowers for hospice patients throughout Allegany and Cattaraugus County.

ALLEGANY - More than 200 locally grown sunflowers are bringing a little extra sunshine to HomeCare & Hospice patients throughout Cattaraugus County.

Members of the HomeCare & Hospice senior leadership team recently headed to the fields of the organization’s Medical Director, Dr. Thayaparan “Dr. Matt” Mathanakaran, where they harvested the flowers to create small bouquets for hospice patients.

While many know Dr. Matt as a family medicine physician, his community involvement extends well beyond his practice. He serves as Medical Director for the Olean City School District, School Physician for Portville Central School District, physician for CUTCO Corporation, and as a member of the Allegany-Limestone Central School District Board of Education.

He’s also a farmer.

“Dr. Matt generously offered the sunflowers from his fields, and we knew immediately how we wanted to share them,” said Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of HomeCare & Hospice. “Something as simple as a bouquet of fresh flowers can create a beautiful moment for a patient, and that’s what this was all about.”

The team harvested more than 100 sunflowers, which will be bundled into small bouquets and delivered to hospice patients throughout Allegany and Cattaraugus County.