A patient in the hospice residence in 91原创 had a simple wish 鈥� to go outside for a bit.
So staff struggled to get the patient鈥檚 bed out the doors of the squat 60-year-old building near 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
The desire for the staff and the 91原创 Hospice Society, which supports local hospice care, to be able to fulfill the dying wishes of a patients helped drive the design of the new 15-bed hospice facility currently being constructed on 52nd Avenue at 219A Street.
鈥淲e decided we wanted every patient room to have patio access to the outdoors,鈥� said society president Kathy Derksen.
She was joined by Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee and B.C. Health Minister to announce that construction is underway on the new facility that provides a home-like setting for people at the end of their lives.
鈥淲e are so grateful for the incredible support we have received from our community, donors and funding partners to help make this new 15-bed hospice residence a reality for our community,鈥� Derksen said. 鈥淭he end-of-life journey is not just about dying. It鈥檚 about living well, right to the end.鈥�
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The residence will have space for patients and their families, including private rooms for patients, a dedicated sanctuary, and family kitchen, laundry and washroom.
Each year the 10-bed facility provides care for about 238 patients. The new facility is expected to allow for the care of about 350 people per year, Dix noted.
鈥淲ith a growing and aging population there鈥檚 a growing need,鈥� he said.
Construction is starting this month on a new 15-room hospice residence in 91原创.
鈥� Fraser Health (@Fraserhealth)
Thank you to and for their partnership in making this project a reality.
The new hospice residence will have about 14.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions with Fraser Health providing the medical/clinical care and the hospice society providing the support services and running the residence. Some of the services provided at its program centre on 48th Avenue may move over to the residence. Currently the 10-bed facility has 10.9 FTE staffing, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, a patient care coordinator, social worker, and a unit clerk, supported by registered nurse and licensed practical nurse 24 hours a day. Thehospice society also provides a hospice volunteer coordinator.
Dix said the Fraser Health/91原创 Hospice Society division of labour 鈥渨ill be a model鈥� for other communities. There are a variety of arrangements between local health authorities and the hospice groups in various communities.
The total budget is $8.5 million for the new 91原创 residence. The building will cost $7.38 million with the remainder for equipment and furnishings. The province, through Fraser Health and BC Housing, is providing $5 million while the hospice society has been fundraising its portion of $2.28 million. There鈥檚 also a $900,000 grant from the BC Centre for Palliative Care and the Township has waived municipal charges totalling $219,000.
PAST COVERAGE: New 15-bed hospice to open in 91原创 in 2019
The society has raised the bulk of its contribution but continues to fundraise to help outfit and furnish the facility, according to hospice society executive director Carissa Halley.
She added that the new, bigger residence will mean the society will do some navel gazing on how to move into the future. More patients in the hospice residence, for instance, could mean more demand for support services such as grief counselling for families.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an opportunity for growth for us,鈥� she commented. 鈥淲ith the new residence, it鈥檚 a chance to look and evaluate.鈥�
91原创 is seeing significant growth and change in the local health care amenities. Dix noted the hospice project comes at the same time as the 91原创 Memorial Hospital ER expansion due to be complete in 2021 and the construction of the new MRI suite which is due to be complete in 2021 but could start providing some services in December 2020. The 10-bed hospice residence will be used for long-term care once the new facility is open next summer.
Dix said the global pandemic may have had minor impacts on the new facility, such as delaying Friday鈥檚 construction announcement but the project is 鈥渇ull steam ahead.鈥�
Derksen said the design, with individual patient rooms, access from patient rooms to the outdoors, and other features will actually help with COVID-19 safety and protocols. If there has to be lockdowns in the future, families can still visit loved ones, just maybe not be in the same room, for instance.
鈥淔amilies may be able to come up to the hospice and鈥� sit outside,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭heir loved ones could be wheeled right up to the windows.鈥�
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