‘World of difference’

(L-R) Hospice PE staff Heather Campbell, Judy Fraser and Nancy Parks with the Final Journey Quilt crafted by the Prince Edward County Quilt Guild

The County residential hospice will be a year old this summer. Is it living up to the promises made?

A candle sits on a small table just inside the front door of the residential hospice. When lit, it indicates a resident has recently passed on—a quiet signal to visitors, staff and volunteers that family and friends are grieving the loss of a loved one inside.

To know, to be aware, that the hours and days in this life are near an end, is surely among the cruellest aspects of human consciousness. Quite apart of the personal reckoning— painful enough as it must be—it is the toll taken upon loved ones that is unquestionably the hardest for those at the precipice of life, to bear.

Medicine is no longer a remedy in these circumstances— but rather a sympathetic means to ease the physical pain. A different kind of care and support is required.

Respectfulness. Dignity. Compassion. Support. This is what Hospice Prince Edward is—it is what they do.

“We were astounded by the warm, caring nature each of you displayed toward Mom. It made a world of difference to her and to us, as a family, going through such a difficult time. You are wonderful people, doing a wonderful job.”

Such sentiments are common. For it is in these most tender and anxious moments that the grace of humanity matters most. It is in the small gestures. The rituals. The symbols. Being present to hold a hand. To engage a fading glance.

“Many, many tears are shed here,” explained Nancy Parks, executive director of Hospice Prince Edward. “But most are tears of relief when families arrive.”

More than anything else, Hospice Prince Edward enables its residents to leave this world with dignity—giving them the peace of mind to know they weren’t a burden to those closest to them, in their final days.

Hospice Prince Edward has offered palliative and end-of-life support since 1990. Last July, it opened the region’s first residential hospice facility built almost entirely with funds contributed from residents and businesses in Prince Edward County.

Since then Hospice Prince Edward has served 31 residents and their families. The average length of stay is just under 10 days. For most it is their final home.

“Our family lost a wonderful sister this morning,” wrote one family member of a Hospice resident. “As tough as it was, it was made easier to handle with the wonderful hospice home and the excellent caring staff.”

‘EVERYTHING WE HAD HOPED FOR’
Yet Hospice Prince Edward is also a place of celebration—serving as host to birthday parties, baptisms and anniversaries. It has also hosted a wedding service.

“This is what we see,” said Parks. “It’s where families can reconnect in a way that might not be possible in any other setting. Life goes on as much as possible.”

Professional healthcare and support workers serve the medical needs of residents, volunteers do nearly everything else to make the hospice function well. Currently Hospice Prince Edward is supported by more than 50 volunteers; six more are participating in an intensive 30-hour training program.

Pat Dye volunteers a few hours a week at the hospice. Like most households, there are a host of chores to be managed and daily tasks to be checked off. She has mastered the art of serving without being intrusive. Much of her time is with family members—chatting and listening. She is good at it.

“We get so much more than we give,” says Dye of her volunteer experience at hospice.

Dye was recently named the recipient of the 2014 June Callwood Circle of Outstanding Volunteers for Hospice Prince Edward.

She sees firsthand the role that Hospice is serving, and the difference it has made in the lives of residents, regretful only that it wasn’t available for her husband.

“This home belongs to the community,” said Dye. “It is everything we had hoped and worked for.”

WHAT MAKES HOSPICE PE TICK
The healthcare services of the Hospice Prince Edward are funded under an evaluation program of the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). It is a new model for Hospice funding in the province—in which the LHIN pays the actual cost of services, even though this amount will fluctuate over time, rather than funding, a fixed rate, the model used for most such facilities currently. It is the only LHIN-funded hospice in the this region.

The most important metric, according to Nancy Parks, is that by any measure—Hospice Prince Edward is delivering palliative and end-of-life care cost effectively.

“We know it costs a lot more to be in a hospital bed,” said Parks. “But this is much more than dollars and cents. It is the human element that is so much better served in this home; the experience for both the individual and their family.”

The LHIN will be recommending the Hospice Prince Edward model to other communities and seems certain to continue funding these healthcare services after the evaluation period.

Yet, about a third of the operating costs of Hospice Prince Edward will continue to be funded by the community, donors and businesses. To do this the Hospice Prince Edward Foundation was formed to manage and coordinate ongoing fundraising efforts.

In its first campaign Hospice Prince Edward set out to raise $850,000. So far it has raised $775,937.

“We are confident we will reach our goal,” Nancy Parks reported to County council last month. “We have no debt. This was only made possible by the incredible number of volunteer hours dedicated to making Hospice Prince Edward a reality.”

SAFE AND COMFORTABLE
In the corner of the living room, a handcrafted quilt is draped simply but elegantly over a rack. The Final Journey Quilt, crafted by the members of the Prince Edward County Quilter’s Guild, is gathered up, and used to cloak him or her on a resident’s passing as they leave hospice for the last time.

“Please know how truly fortunate we feel to have Hospice Prince Edward in our community,” wrote another family member. “Mom’s comfort meant everything to us while she made her final journey—you truly made that possible.”

As the first anniversary of the residential hospice approaches— it seems clear Hospice Prince Edward has lived up to the promise of a safe and comfortable place to embark upon this final journey.