Residential Hospice Update
Our Dream of a Residential Hospice
Hospice Peterborough has been dreaming about building a residential hospice since we opened our doors more than 20 years ago! In 2004 our Board decided the time was right to explore the development of a residential hospice in a more deliberate and focused manner.
In January 2005, Dr John Beamish spoke at our 15th anniversary celebration:
"I believe that it is time to return to the idea of a freestanding hospice that provides total care in a safe environment for those who are dying. Our original philosophy was to work with the caregiving community to improve care in all settings. While we have had remarkable success and should always pursue this goal, I fear that it is no longer enough. Adequate care is in serious jeopardy. High tech has replaced high touch. It is time to create an oasis of care where excellence, innovation, choice and compassion can be fostered. Such a centre will have a ripple effect through the whole system and serve as a prod to improve care. We again have to lead the community and set an example to be followed."
Since that time, Hospice Peterborough staff, Board members, community partners, friends and volunteers have been working diligently on this project. For more information, please see our detailed time line of work done to date.
Hospice Peterborough is located in the former manse of St Andrews United Church on the corner of Rubidge and Brock Streets. As most of you know, through generous donations from the community, we were able to completely renovate our lovely old home and offer our current community programs here. St Andrews and Hospice have enjoyed a close partnership over the years and as our residential hospice planning continued, the Church offered the option of building in their west wing. In March 2009 we were able to confirm that a 10 bed residential hospice could be developed in this space! This offers us the amazing option of keeping our current programming in place while having the residential facility near by. We continue to work closely with the church as we explore the fine points of our partnership.
Currently we are working with our partners across the Central East Local Health Integration Network (CE-LHIN) and across the province. It is encouraging to note that common challenges to building and operating residential hospices have been identified and communities are now working together to find solutions. We all want to ensure that residential hospice care becomes a sustainable reality - hospice care that is available to all families who need it.
OUR DREAM IS ALIVE!
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