HARRISTON – The Saugeen Hospice board of directors updated Minto residents about its mission, goals and next steps at an Aug. 14 meeting.
Around 15 people attended the Harriston Legion.
Saugeen vice chair Ken Brown said the dream for the hospice has been a decade in the making, ever since the province said more hospice beds are needed in the region.
“About four years ago we started speaking publicly about the importance of hospice,” Brown said.
“The idea was to try to get a hospice in this region that’s closer to home.”
The hospice will be located in the new Eastridge Business Park (east side of Walkerton).
It will be around 39 kilometres from Minto, providing residents access to hospice care within 50 kilometres of where they live.
Brown said the hospice had to be located nearby certain places such as a hotel and restaurant.
The facility will have six private bedrooms, with a possible seventh bed. Designs allow up to three extra rooms in the future.
The site is to include 50 parking spaces and four tie-ups for horses.
The facility is expected to serve Brockton, South Bruce, Hanover, Arran-Elderslie, West Grey and Minto.
An aerial view of the Saugeen Hospice final build. Rendering from Saugeen Hospice website
The government has so far pledged $1.5 million toward the project, as of last year.
The hospice has received $250,000 for expenses with the rest to be release once built.
Just over half of operating costs are to be provided by the province annually.
“Hospice is unique; it’s not just a medical centre,” Brown said.
“There’s a specific vision to provide compassionate and professional end-of-life services to our communities.”
So far $6.72 million has been raised through pledges and donations toward a $10-million-goal for the build.
“Due to the hospice not being projected to build until the summer of 2028, we’re going to have to update that $10 million figure,” director Maurice Voison said.
“Hospice doesn’t give medical service, it doesn’t give treatment. It is there to support the person in their last days or weeks.”
Hospice business manager Chuck Boulianne said a bed can be occupied “somewhere around three weeks [but] 10 days is a very common thing in Ontario right now.”
Currently the hospice has 70 to 80 volunteers organizing fundraiser events, and will need to maintain the roster once open. All volunteers working in the facility will receive training about palliative care.
Expected services include:
- private rooms with room for family visits and stays;
- holistic care;
- emotional and spiritual support;
- pain and symptom management;
- caregiver respite support, grief and bereavement programs; and
- specialized end-of-life around-the-clock care.
