On Tuesday August 29th, The Heart of Hastings Hospice was pleased to host their long-awaited Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Staff, volunteers, board members, local dignitaries and other community guests were on hand to help celebrate. MPP Ric Bresee was on site to speak about the importance of this expansion, and the impact The Heart of Hastings Hospice has on local communities.
Hospice care focuses on relieving suffering and providing a holistic approach through psychosocial, physical, clinical, spiritual, and emotional support. The hospice model has long proven to be a high quality, cost-effective solution for people at end-of-life. Demand for hospice continues to increase with the aging demographic in the Centre Hastings area. All hospice services are offered at no charge.
It must be noted that the number of hospice beds across the province is significantly less (271 of 755 to 1080 beds) than what the Ontario government advises is needed.
After lengthy consultation with stakeholders in the communities, they serve, the hospice recognized in their 2018-2023 - strategic plan, the need to expand their footprint from a 2-bed hospice to a 3-bed hospice. “It is wonderful to see this project completed after years of planning, and for us to be able to better meet the demand of our community with the addition of the a 3rd hospice bed and 2nd guest room.” Explained Pauline Pietschmann, Fundraising & Awareness Coordinator at The Heart of Hastings Hospice.
Construction of the expansion was completed in September 2022; however, the addition of a Serenity Garden for Hospice clients and families was added in early August of this year, after raising funds with a Fund a Need Campaign at the 2022 Handbags for Hospice Signature Fundraiser. The Garden was a group effort with help from landscaping businesses, including Lyman’s landscape, Willowlee Sod Farm. The project would not have been complete without the expertise of Quinte Field Naturalists, Natural Themes Native Plant Nursery as well as The David Suzuki Butterfly Project.
The expansion increases the hospice footprint to three resident beds, and an additional guest bedroom for families, while also providing dedicated private space for Grief and Bereavement Support and Practical Caregiver Training, as well as increased space for the equipment-lending program. These programs have an enormous impact for the 22 thousand + people served locally, including Centre Hastings, Marmora, Tweed, Tudor and Cashel and the townships of Stirling Rawdon and Madoc.
The Hospice recognized many donors and contributors who have supported the expansion, including local Municipalities, families, and community organizations and foundations, including the Parrot Foundation, as well as donors who supported our Fund a Need Campaign.
“We were thrilled to share this moment with Gay Lea Foundation representative Brigitte Baumann.
Gay Lea Foods is a leading Canadian co-operative, dedicated to innovation, the development of high-quality products and growing the market for Canadian milk. 100% Canadian owned, locally, Gay Lea is the parent company of Ivanhoe Cheese and Stirling Creamery, and pledged $40,000 in support of the hospice expansion.” Adds Pietschmann
To learn more about Hospice services and ways you can support, please visit www.heartofhastingshospice.ca
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