Community must fund-raise $300,000 to get one-bed hospice at Tiverton Park Manor

The community support is there for a proposed hospice in Kincardine, but now that same community must fund-raise $300,000 to make the idea a reality.

That's the word from the Huron Shores Hospice steering committee that held a public meeting Tuesday night at the Davidson Centre, and then made a presentation to Kincardine council Wednesday night.

It was standing-room only at the public meeting as about 100 people gathered to hear about the hospice proposal.

Phase 1 of the project would bring a one-bed hospice to Tiverton Park Manor. The cost for start-up and two years of operating expenses is $310,000, said Cheryl Cottrill of the committee, and the hope is to have it in place by early next year. Phase 2 is a three-bed, stand-alone facility in Kincardine, providing hospice services, by 2019-20; and the ultimate goal is a centre of excellence for hospice and palliative care, by 2021-22.

The committee has launched a Hearts for Hospice fund-raising campaign, with Duncan Hawthorne, retired president and chief executive officer of Bruce Power, as honourary chairman.

Hawthorne surprised the committee by travelling from the United Kingdom (U.K.) to attend Tuesday night's meeting.

"I'm glad to see so many people here tonight," he said. "I find it interesting when the committee says this is a long process. It's important to have several milestones. Nothing succeeds like success. For example, at the Bruce Nuclear site, if I'd said right at the beginning that we'd have all eight reactors up and running in a decade, no one would have believed me. But we started taking important steps, one at a time."

He said the steering committee is a good team which has already put in years of hard work and dedication. "Now, it's time for the community to step up and willingly support this project with your time, your funds and your energy. It's not a difficult project but it will take time."

Hawthorne said when he went back to the U.K. in the spring, there was a fire at the hospice in the small community where he now lives.

"It was devastating for the community," he said. "I was asked if I could help and they were clearing out the building when I went there. I found a plaque on the floor that said, 'Dignity lives here'. That's what it means to have a hospice in your community. I'm happy to support this project and I'm sure the community will support it as well."

Peggy Zeppieri of the steering committee, said the goal of the Huron Shores Hospice is to empower individuals to live well to the end of life by providing compassionate, dignified and holistic care in a comfortable home-like setting, while supporting their family members and friends.

Currently, the only service alternatives available to residents in southern Bruce County, who are dying at home or in a long-term care facility, are hospital care or transfer to the six-bed Residential Hospice of Grey Bruce in Owen Sound, said Cottrill. A hospice in the Municipality of Kincardine would augment the care and services already being provided to serve the Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss. South Bruce and Saugeen Shores area.

Under the Hearts for Hospice campaign, the steering committee is holding three fund-raising events in 2017-18: Hike for Hospice, Handbags for Hospice, and a golf tournament.

The next steps, said Zeppieri, are to form a board of directors for Huron Shores Hospice; solicit and train volunteers to work in the residential hospice; continue working with the Grey Bruce Collaborative to move the three-bed proposal forward with the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN); work with the community to find a location for a three-bed, stand-alone residential hospice in the Municipality of Kincardine; and continue to work on the capital fund-raising campaign.

She urged the community to pledge its financial support; take part in the fund-raising events; spread the word to family and friends; volunteer to help in the hospice, on the board or on a committee; and donate through planned giving and memorial donations.

Dr. Damian Gunaratne, who is also on the steering committee, said he and his family moved to Kincardine and he began his family practice three months ago, taking over the patients of Dr. Rejean Duwyn.

He strongly supports a residential hospice in Kincardine. "The dying process is a very stressful time for the individual and for the family. A hospice is a residential, home-like, peaceful setting that helps make that process easier."

Joining Cottrill, Zeppieri and Gunaratne on the steering committee are Joan Eaglesham and Jill Hunter. Loretta Dunn of the VON, also encouraged support of the residential hospice in Kincardine.

Ruth Dorey, representing Kincardine's palliative care group, said that 10 years ago, there was a study done, regarding the need for a residential hospice in Owen Sound and in Kincardine. But only Owen Sound got the facility.

"Having a residential hospice close to home means a lot because you have your own community there to support you," said Dorey. "Distance makes a lot of difference in how we look at services."

She said Kincardine's palliative care service began 30 years as a hospital-based program. It is now a community-based program. The volunteers are well-educated and well-trained, and often do something as simple as provide a listening ear, or read to the patient.

"Volunteers can even go with the family to visit the funeral home and the cemetery to help make arrangements," said Dorey. "And sometimes just being there, as a quiet presence, is all that's needed."

She said many people fear dying alone, so volunteers can stay overnight with a patient, to help assuage that fear.

"We can even assist after the death, providing the family with emotional support and offering bereavement resources and programs."

Dorey said the study a decade ago, said Kincardine should have a residential hospice. "Our time is now."

During a brief question period, Cottrill said that a person would likely stay in the hospice for two weeks or less for care. Once the three-bed facility is available, that care could be expanded.

Eaglesham said there is no cost to the person using the hospice. The funding is covered by the provincial government and the community.

Hawthorne has already donated $20,000 to the residential hospice, and Linda Bowers of Kincardine has donated $2,500.

Wednesday night, following the presentation at council by Cottrill, Zeppieri and Eaglesham, the request was made for $5,000 from the municipality to assist this project in moving forward.

Councillor Laura Haight asked what the $5,000 would be used for.

Eaglesham said it will go toward defining the policies and procedures of the Huron Shores Hospice board of directors, and toward visiting with businesses, service clubs and organizations to get support for this project.

It will also be used to assist in training volunteers in the fundamentals of palliative and hospice care, she said. "We want to get about 30-40 volunteers to take that 30-hour course."

When asked about funding from the LHIN, Eaglesham said the LHIN is actually charging for the course. "The LHIN actually expects the community to support this initiative."

"I'm not surprised," said mayor Anne Eadie. "I attended the public meeting last night and there was a great turn-out; there's a lot of interest in the community."

She said the request for $5,000 will be referred to staff for a report back to council.

"I applaud your efforts," said councillor Maureen Couture. "I think this is a great project and I hope local businesses and the community can get onboard and support it."

For further information about the Huron Shores Hospice, check the website at www.huronshoreshospice.ca or contact the committee by E-mail at info@huronshoreshospice.ca



Duncan Hawthorne (centre), honourary chairman of the Hearts for Hospice fund-raising campaign, is joined by the Huron Shores Hospice steering committee members and other speakers at the public meeting, Tuesday night at the Davidson Centre; from left, are Ruth Dorey of palliative care in Kincardine, Cheryl Cottrill, Peggy Zeppieri, Joan Eaglesham, Loretta Dunn of the VON, and Dr. Damian Gunaratne



Dr. Lisa Roth (standing) of Kincardine speaks to the crowd at the public meeting regarding the Huron Shores Hospice in Kincardine



About 100 people gather for the public meeting about a residential hospice in Kincardine