Residents living in rural Lambton County, who need compassionate end of life care, will soon have a few local options.
The St. Joseph’s Hospice of Sarnia-Lambton is adding three new beds to its residence, to meet the growing needs of the community.
It's being made possible by funding from the Ontario government, which is investing up to $19.75 million in capital funding to increase hospice beds across the province.
The expansion will bring the total number of publicly funded hospice beds in Ontario to 768.
The additional beds won't be located at the Christina Street facility, but rather in a dedicated space within the rural community, to be announced at a later date.
This new facility will include private suites with washrooms, a common area, kitchenette, and accessible parking.
It's hoped the space will be opened by this fall or winter once renovations are done to ensure it meets Ministry of Health standards.
Hospice Executive Director Kelly Chartrand is thrilled to be able to expand their services.
"We've identified, with the geographical location of Lambton County, that it is approximately a 45 per cent rural community," said Chartrand. "As it is right now, we didn't have any rural beds in the community for end of life care. The addition of those three beds in rural Lambton will allow St. Joseph's Hospice to continue providing holistic, compassionate care to individuals closer to their homes."
Chartrand said they'll be looking to ramp up their fundraising efforts to offset the increased operational costs.
"We are not fully funded through the government so there is a lot of fundraising that happens in the background to be able to continue to provide the services," she said. "Yearly, the budget that we must meet is $2.4 million of fundraised money just to stay within a balanced budget."
Director of Residence Services Sally Jenkins emphasized the impact on rural communities.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to extend compassionate hospice care to families in rural areas who may have faced barriers in accessing services," said Jenkins. "These additional beds will bring high-quality, end-of-life care closer to those living in rural communities, ensuring equitable access and support during such a critical time."
Hospice officials thanked Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey for his dedication to enhancing care across the region.
In a news release, Bailey said he was thrilled by the news.
"I’m overjoyed by the news that St. Joseph’s Hospice in Sarnia-Lambton is receiving three new residential hospice beds as part of our government’s commitment in the 2024 budget to add 84 new hospice beds in the province,” said Bailey. “I want to thank the Minister of Health, the team at St. Joseph’s Hospice, and everyone in the community that has advocated for this increased investment in St. Joseph’s Hospice and the incredible work they do in our community."
Since opening in December 2009, 2,450 residents have been cared for by hospice staff.
They have provided caregiver, wellness, and bereavement support to over 4,800 people.
Their work is supported by more than 360 volunteers and staff members, offering a wide range of services, including 24/7 resident care, adult and children’s bereavement support, caregiver education, and complementary therapies.