Author: Hospice Peterborough

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COVID-19 Announcement – Hospice Peterborough

Hospice Peterborough has announced its first positive confirmed case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The Organization has no additional suspected or confirmed cases. Peterborough Public Health does not consider this to be an outbreak.

“As always the health and safety of clients, residents, family members, volunteers, staff, partners, and community members is paramount,” stated Hajni Hos, Executive Director.

  “In keeping with Hospice Peterborough’s concern for the wellbeing of residents, their families and supporters as well as our staff, we have undertaken an extensive COVID-19 screening and testing protocol.   Through this process we have diagnosed an A-symptomatic COVID-19 positive resident, received in transfer from a facility that recently went into outbreak.   Awareness of this diagnosis has allowed us to maximize this individual’s comfort, while protecting their family and staff through isolation and other protective equipment measures and procedures.    We remain committed to our mission of providing optimal care to the dying, while supporting family and community through difficult times.”

Dr. John Beamish, Medical Director, Hospice Peterborough    

Since the beginning of March 2020 Hospice Peterborough activated its COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan according to a ‘when’ and not ‘if scenario by implementing and following strict pandemic protocols, precautions, and procedures while monitoring and assess next steps, escalating risks, and contingency precautions in consultation with Medical staff and partners. Decisions continue to be guided by the expert advice being provided by local, provincial, and national public health authorities; Peterborough Public Health, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, and the Ministry of Health.

Due to rigorous precautions staff and guests to the building have been provided with adequate PPE.

To minimize the risk of community transmissions and for the safety of residents, their families, clients, volunteers and staff, Hospice Peterborough made the decision in early March to restrict entry to its London St. location to essential staff and visitors only. Consequently there is no risk of COVID-19 through Hospice Peterborough exposure to community clients and volunteers.

Deep cleaning and disinfecting, has been taking place since the beginning of March and will continue. At this time Hospice Peterborough is not accepting new admissions.

Community programs and bereavement supports are still being offered virtually.

Hospice Peterborough strives to achieve transparency in their governance and will continue to update the community with details as they unfold.

“We have planned for the worst – we have been hoping for the best and in true Hospice Peterborough fashion, we have communicated each and every COVID-19 development and occurrence with our stakeholders and community since the beginning. This is YOUR Community Hospice and we its caretakers. You have entrusted us to this privilege and we are passionate about the delivery of hospice palliative care – in good times and throughout the bad.” Stated Hos.

For further information, contact:

Hajni Hos, Executive Director

Hospice Peterborough

325 London Street

Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2Z5

705-742-4202 or hhos@hospicepeterborough.org

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COVID 19 STATEMENT:

Guided by the expert advice being provided by local, provincial, and national public health authorities Hospice Peterborough will continue to monitor and assess next steps and precautions in the coming days and weeks.

Effective immediately until further notice:

  • All community groups, volunteer supports, presentations, and meetings are cancelled.
  • Only essential Hospice Residence family members are limiting visiting hours 11am-7pm on weekdays and 11am-5pm on weekends (subject to change).
  • We are actively screening everyone who enters the building.
  • We have postponed our April 25th Gala and May 3rd Hike for Hospice events until the fall 2020.

Hospice Peterborough remains committed to its mission in supporting individuals and families at end of life, through life-threatening illness and grief. We will monitor and adapt as the COVID 19 outbreak evolves. Please check our website for updated information.

We appreciate your patience and understanding, and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sincerely,

Hajni Signature

Hajni Hos, Executive Director

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Hospice Peterborough Planning Survey – A chance to share your ideas!

Hospice Peterborough (HP) is developing a new multi-year strategic plan, and we want to hear from you!

Your feedback, perspectives, and ideas will shed light upon important issues and uncover the most promising opportunities for HP.

Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey here: Hospice Peterborough SURVEY. It is available until Friday February 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm.

Anyone who is connected to Hospice Peterborough is encouraged to participate. Most of the questions are multiple choice and easy to complete and we also allow an opportunity for comments.

Hearing about your experience is important to us. Completing this survey is an important way for you to engage in and contribute to HP’s future directions.

Please share the survey with your networks who may also be interested in participating.

Hospice Peterborough Survey

Thank you for your participation and dedication to Hospice Peterborough.

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Strange Thoughts for 2020

New Year’s is often a time for reflection on the past year of chaos and a determination that this year will be different. The realization that this determination hasn’t been all that effective in keeping the chaos at bay brings a new sense of realism into the thoughts for 2020. Perhaps it is the shocking reality that the calendar has more bookings of medical appointments than social ones that allows the thoughts to head in the direction of life and death. More influential however, is that in my day to day work at Hospice I am confronted with life and death issues. John Lennon said, “life is what happens when you are busy making other plans”, and we rarely are prepared for the questions of life and death that we will need to face at some point. At the risk of being accused of morbidity, let me introduce some interesting family discussion at the beginning of this year that may cause some interesting and provocative thinking around this topic.

http://www.engagewithgrace.org/ is a website dedicated to engaging society in some of the most significant discussion we can have. The members are commitment to asking 5 questions around end of life issues that need to be asked and answered by family members. Here they are. Take the time to explore with your family. It may be some of the most important New Year discussion you will have.

1. On a scale of 1 to 5, where do you fall on this continuum?

2. If there were a choice, would you prefer to die at home, or in a hospital?

3. Could a loved one correctly describe how you would like to be treated in the case of a terminal illness?

4. Is there someone you trust whom you’ve appointed to advocate on your behalf when the time is near?

5. Have you completed any of the following: written a living will, appointed a healthcare power of attorney, or completed an advanced directive?

Our discomfort with talking around end of life issues only makes this time more difficult when it comes. What if braving this conversation now allows us to understand one another’s wishes so that we can be sure that decisions made later will be the best ones? Besides we may learn things about one another in the discussion.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Strategic Plan Consulting

This Request for Proposals is for a Consultant to provide advice on the strategic direction of our organization over the next three years (2020/21-2023/24).
This plan will build upon Hospice Peterborough`s past strategic plans covering the years 2011-2014 to 2015-2018. For more information please see outline below.

Request for Proposal – Strategic Plan Consultant  (Closes at 4pm on October 31, 2019)

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Hospice Peterborough Palliative Care Volunteer Training Sessions

Are you interested in working directly with Hospice clients and their families?

Hospice Peterborough is offering introductory orientation sessions in September to learn more about this unique opportunity to volunteer. Call to register to attend on of these sessions on Thursday, September 5th, Tuesday, September 10th or Saturday, September 14th. Following an interview process, you may then be invited to join the hospice volunteer training which will begin in October for 10 weeks (3 hours weekly in the afternoon) or alternate Saturday’s for full days.

The 30-hour series is designed for people interested in providing support for individuals living with life-threatening illness. The course explores issues related to death and dying, support for people who are grieving, and care for the caregiver. This course will introduce you to the concepts of hospice care and prepare you for supporting individuals following the guidelines of Hospice’s philosophy of care.

Please call to register for one of the sessions or for more information at 705-742-4042 or cmillington@hospicepeterborough.org.

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Peterborough’s Community Hospice Nominated

Peterborough’s Community Hospice Nominated

Peterborough – Hospice Peterborough is once again honoured to be nominated for the prestigious Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards, this time in the category of Commercial Development and Renovation.

Having been bestowed with the 2018 Not-for-Profit Excellence Award last year, Hospice Peterborough was surprised and delighted to be nominated again in 2019.

“The experience of being nominated and chosen was a highlight for our organization last year and a joyous acknowledgment of many, many years of hard work and perseverance. The Chamber of Commerce awards generate not only community recognition but appreciation for the work of hospice, it is affirming and humbling,” said Shelley Barrie, Hospice Peterborough, Board Chair.

To be acknowledged in this category for the new Hospice Peterborough home is especially meaningful and an opportunity to further be grateful to the community.

Having newly opened in March of this year, the building is the result of 15 years of dreaming, planning and action. The vision of enhancing hospice service to include 24/7 end of life care was realized for individuals and families when admissions began on April 9th, this care helps to make every moment matter.

The house is located at 325 London Street. It is truly a community achievement that was only possible through the generosity of donors, businesses, government, volunteers, staff and supporters. Design and construction partners, Lett Architect and Mortlock Construction deserve recognition for designing and building this wonderful facility and for helping to keep the dream alive through incredible and unimaginable challenges.

The home like setting was designed to be a safe place where good and lasting memories continue to be made for our clients, their family members, and for staff and volunteers. Hospice Peterborough’s programs and services are offered free of charge to residents of all ages living within the City and County of Peterborough.

The tremendous promotion Hospice Peterborough received last year, through the Chamber of Commerce awards, the Peterborough Examiner, social media, and event video, highlighted 30 years of serving Peterborough City and County.

Hospice Peterborough is proud to share this esteemed nomination with supporters and the entire community.

Photo attached.

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For further information contact

Alison Casey, Manager of Development

P: 705-742-4042 ext. 228

acasey@hospicepeterborough.org