Funding helps Hospice support more families, residents, through the final days

An additional $45,000 presented to Hospice Prince Edward Thursday morning will be used to support more residents and families through their final days together.

Hospice Prince Edward received notice of the increased funding with a visit Thursday morning from Lou Rinaldi, Northumberland Quinte West MPP. The funding is from the provincial government’s announcement in the 2016 budget to commit $13.9 million more to hospice services over the next three years.

Hospice Prince Edward executive director Laura Ricketts said the additional funding for the Downes Ave., Picton home’s three beds will allow volunteers and staff to support more residents and more families.”

“It’s not something people are really comfortable with and not something people have a lot of experience with, but what hospice does, with tremendous support from our volunteers, is give people a place where they can go back to having relationships with their loved ones instead of being caregivers in their final days – that is so important for both the person experiencing the death process and their loved ones to be able to have those moments of connection at the very end,” said Ricketts.

“The folks in Prince Edward County have worked very hard to make this location work and there are a lot of good things happening here,” said Rinaldi. “That’s the bottom line – the ability to support more people at a time when it’s needed most.”

Prince Edward Hastings MPP Todd Smith said Hospice Prince Edward has been an important part of the community in Prince Edward County.

“It has received thousands of dollars in funding from the residents of Prince Edward County and thousands of hours from volunteers. When we’re trying to balance healthcare dollars, and it’s a tricky thing to do, one of the best programs that’s out there is the hospice program.

“Obviously people come here when they’re palliative and there’s no hope that they’re going to recover. The most expensive place for those people to be is in the hospital. Most people would like to be in their own home, but when they can’t, this is such a beautiful home in those very important final days and hours.”

Prince Edward County Mayor Robert Quaiff has experienced the services of Hospice Prince Edward through the support of the Rotary Club, the municipality and on a personal level.

“It’s near and dear to my heart. I had the experience of losing my father in the hospital and experience of hospice, losing my mother at home. The passing of each was an entirely different process and really solidified to me how important process hospice is.”

He said he’s proud of council’s vision for health care in the County.

“If you take a look at what is going on at the McFarland area Wellings Age in Place concept, the potential hospital located there and the rebuild of the HJ McFarland Home, – everything is just starting to come together and fit beautifully,” said Quaiff. “Prince Edward County is so blessed with volunteers we have. Without them, we might as well fold it up, shut down the municipality because we couldn’t exist without them.”