A cottage getaway exemplifies what we treasure most about summer in Canada.
A gathering of family and friends, memorable conversation, plenty of laughter and time spent savoring memorable moments.
That’s the inspiration behind the design for Hospice of Elgin, revealed Thursday at Wildflowers Farm.
So much so that the facility is to be known as The Cottage.
But it will be about more than end-of-life care, explained interim executive director Laura Sherwood.
Hospice of Elgin will be a 17,000 sq. ft., one-floor facility with a heavy emphasis on wood and stone to complement the natural setting overlooking Waterworks Park.
Sherwood stressed the design and feel of the hospice is to allow for outstanding end-of-life care for individuals and their families.
Once it opens, Hospice of Elgin is expected to provide care to about 500 individuals and families each year, at no cost.
Construction of the first hospice for St. Thomas and Elgin county is expected to begin shortly.
It will be a hub for care, with some individuals accessing a variety of services including respite, caregiver programs and counselling but continue to stay at
home.
The start of construction is imminent, advised Sherwood.
She added completion of the build is expected to take 12 to 14 months.
Sherwood continued, “Understanding the unique needs of our community has been a critical part in our design thinking and execution. We listened carefully, and centered the design of our hospice around the needs, gaps, traditions and expectations of those living in our community.”
“We’re proud to be able to share this design milestone with you today,” said Robert Furneaux, vice-president of the Hospice of Elgin Board, “as it quickly moves
us towards construction.”
“We need a hospice in Elgin county”, added Dr. John Hofhuis. “Individuals are having to leave our community to die, and that’s just not right. Families are traveling outside Elgin
county to access care in Woodstock, Chatham, and London; or they are going to the hospital, which is not designed for end-of-life care.
“We also know the Emergency Rooms are full, wait times are high, and health human resources are limited. Building a Hospice will have a tremendous impact on our community.”
About Hospice of Elgin
• Elgin county is the only region in Southwestern Ontario without a hospice.
• Hospice of Elgin will build a 17,000 sq. ft. one-floor facility with construction expected to start in late 2023 at 8 South Edgeware Road in St. Thomas.
• Hospice of Elgin will provide wrap around care to individuals (and their families) at end-of-life in a welcoming ‘cottage-like’ setting. Hospice is about comfort, quality of life
and care. This includes addressing pain and symptoms, while also supporting the psycho-social, spiritual, and practical needs of the individual.
• Hospice will be a hub of care, meaning that some people will access hospice services (including a clinic, respite, caregiver programs, counselling) but continue to stay at
home. Hospice will also support families, after the death of a loved one.
• Each year, hospice expects to provide care to 500 individuals in our community, of which 100-125 will die at hospice. The average length of stay is 2-3 weeks.
• There is no cost to individuals or families.
• Hospice of Elgin will create 30+ new jobs and 200 volunteer opportunities for our community.
• Hospice of Elgin is a registered charity governed by a local board of directors representing the community.
• Hospice is fundraising to raise approximately $17 million needed to complete the project. The community has helped raise 75% so far.
