Norfolk County councilors are backing plans for a hospice to serve Norfolk and Haldimand counties.
Councilors, at a council-in-committee meeting Tuesday, voted to write a letter of support for the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice.
“This is quite near and dear to my heart,” Coun. Kim Huffman said. “I know residents from this area have utilized Stedman Hospice and I’m grateful for that, but also my first thought is when are we going to have those services here.
“We do have an aging population and we need to make sure we provide those services for those individuals who are experiencing end of life.”
Huffman made the comments after advisors heard from Michael Godelie, chair of the community hospice board.
Plans call for a 16,000-square-foot building to house all hospice-related programs and 10 hospice beds.
The building will have space for a day hospice program, outreach and bereavement programs as well as administration and outreach space. As well, the hospice will have outdoor space for programs, expansion, community accessibility and parking.
The time frame for construction depends on getting a property as well as capital and building campaigns. The building is expected to cost between $10 and $12 million.
In addition, in order to be considered a viable operation in the eyes of the provincial government, the hospice would need two years worth of operating funds set aside, Godelie said.
“We’re working on that as fast as we can and once a piece of property comes forward things will move faster at that point,” Godelie said.
The hospice would be happy to receive donated land, Godelie said in response to a question from Huffman. The hospice board is looking for land that is central to all communities in Haldimand and Norfolk.
The provincial government doesn’t provide funding for the construction of a hospice.
However, provincial funding is available for operations and generally covers the cost of seven beds per 100,000 population. Based on the combined population of the two counties, the hospice is likely to receive funding for six or seven beds, Godelie said.
The hospice board would like to have 10 beds, Godelie said.
“As was mentioned, we have an aging population and we’re going to need more beds,” he said.
Godelie said the board has representation from both counties and, at present, is looking to develop a capital committee and a building committee. The project is going to need input and more boots on the ground to help start developing ideas as the board moves toward building a hospice.
A hospice, with actual beds, can provide palliative care to individuals if the burden of caring for them becomes too much for families, Godelie said.
“We can do the work so that family members can do the important job of being family being together with their loved ones at the end of life,” Godelie said. “They don’t have to be afraid and they don’t have to suffer at the end of life.”
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