HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-11-30, Page 23Jessica's House committee would love
to share knowledge with the north
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Those at the helm of the
progressing Jessica's House
in South Huron, will be more
than pleased to work with
communities to the north on
their hospice projects- once
theirs is up and running.
At a public meeting at the
Exeter Legion last November
23rd, committee member
Deb Homuth said
"We would love to share
our knowledge with those in
the north who also want
beds. It is disappointing that
they (the LHIN and the Col-
laborative Steering commit-
tee) are pitting one commu-
nity against the others."
The meeting was chaired
by Kimberly Payne, Exec.
Director of the Foundation,
Pat O'Rourke,Chair of South
Huron Hospital Foundation
and Jessica's House steering
committee co-chairs
Homuth, and Maria
Hamather.
December 9th, 2014 the
Auditor General said,
"Although most people
would prefer to die at
home, most die in hospital.
Aside from the compas-
sionate aspect of this, car-
ing for terminally ill
patients in an acute-care
hospital is estimated to cost
over 40% more than provid-
ing care in a hospital-based
palliative -care unit. This is
more than double the cost
of providing care in a hos-
pice bed and over 10 times
more than providing at-
home care. Access to pallia-
tive -care services is not
equitable across the prov-
ince. Patients who qualify
for services in one area of
the province may not have
access to similar services in
another area." Hamather
said, "Residential hospices
give people another
choice."
Homuth told the forum,
"The government
responded to the auditor
general and news of the
new hospice bed funding
first came in February
when it was announced
that Ontario's budget for
2016 contained a signifi-
cant increase in funds for
community hospice pallia-
tive care. This number, she
explained came to $75 mil-
lion over the next three
years, and at the end of
those three years, the
annual government fund-
ing will be $55 million per
year. Specifically, 200 new
hospice beds will be
funded.
"This is not a fad," she said,
"We suspect the need is not
just for the moment and
(electoral) campaigns will
continue for funding for the
future."
All capital must be raised
locally to build and furnish
the hospice. O'Rourke
explained they have raised
more than one million dol-
lars in cash to date and
their campaign will kick off
in a couple of weeks.
"This is unique. I have
never experienced anything
like this and not a day goes
by where someone is not
asking how they can help.
We have a lot of work to do
and this is a great start. From
the ten year old kid to organ-
izations and businesses, eve-
ryone wants to help."
O'Rourke said, "The lot
has been donated, a
designer wants to provide
drawings for free. The offer
of, at no cost, the roof,
trusses, shingles, installa-
tion- even the flooring has
been huge. We finished first
in Canada in the AVIVA cam-
paign; currently a national
finalist announcement Dec.
8th and the media attention
has gone from Lucan to Luc -
know and everything in
between."
The Ontario government
will provide $105,000 per
bed per year for operating
costs for LHIN approved
hospices which is 60-80% of
the average annual operat-
ing costs. The committee
explained the more beds the
hospice house, the higher
the costs due to increased
staffing.
Huron County has been
identified by the South West
LHIN as the County most in
need of a residential hospice
and SW LHIN asked for
funding for 10-12 beds to
fund an integrated Huron -
Perth solution.
O'Rourke said their busi-
ness plan dictates a need for
three million dollars. "We
have a two year contingency
if it is decided Jessica's
House get beds this round.
"By building a residential
hospice in Exeter we would
have the greatest potential to
relieve stress on more hospi-
tals than if the residential
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
A well attended meeting in Exeter was geared to update the
public on the process of Jessica's House, a residential hospice to
be built in South Huron.
hospice was situated any-
where else in Huron County.
Nowhere else in Huron -
Perth would there be that
much positive effect on as
many area hospitals ensur-
ing a much larger long-term
cost-saving and sustainabil-
ity model," he explained
adding, "We have the desire,
the finances, the volunteers,
and the donations to build
and sustain the hospice:'
In frustration this group
says the process has not
been easy. They requested to
be a voice on the collabora-
tive steering committee
since January and was just
permitted in November to
have Kim Winbow, Coordi-
nator of Bereavement Ser-
vices at the table. "We don't
need permission to build a
hospice," said Homuth. The
LHIN does not decide - all
the funding does not come
from the LHIN.
Having said that. Homuth
said they are very aware that
South Huron is not the rec-
ommended destination for
beds. "We are puzzled but
not daunted by that. We will
operate without funders for
a bit, but believe the LHINs
will see Jessica's House is a
good case.
"LHINs, by virtue of their
process, force communities to
argue 'us not them' for fund-
ing. I resent that. I am a citizen
of the county. I want more for
more people. I want residen-
tial hospices in three or four
communities yet the LIHN
persists with a strategy that
chooses one community over
all others. We have imagined a
very different approach where
communities work to support
one another. We are ready
now. Fund us, so we can help
another community later,
instead of, not funding the
one that is ready, excluding
us, she said.
South Huron would like the
LHIN to consider a model of
five beds for Stratford, two for
Clinton and three for Exeter.
"We do not work against
another community. We
would like to see Jessica's
House built and then we can
help another community. We
are further along than anyone.
Our entire community is
involved in this process."
The public are being
encouraged to lobby the gov-
ernment for Jessica's House.
The process, with the consult-
ant's recommendation ending
up at the Ministry of Health
will be released in the early
new year. "We have not been
included in the decision mak-
ing,
aking, so we as a community
need to talk loudly," said
Homuth adding they have
never been invited to present
to the board and the people of
his area can advocate on their
behalf They finally allowed us
"We are aware that the con-
sultant's study is recommend-
ing Central Huron/Clinton
however, since the final deci-
sion rests with the Board of
the SW LHIN, we are hoping
they have the wisdom to rec-
ognize our efforts to date. We
knowthat residential hospices
get built, operate and are
maintained through grass-
roots efforts. We know the
LHINs have been instructed
to "follow the lead of commu-
nities' We believe we will get
funded at some point. In the
meantime, we continue our
efforts and will break ground
this spring. If we build it, they
will come."
Wednesday, November 30, 2016 • Huron Expositor 23
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One of the things she has done is invented, and patented, "Baby Buddies".
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What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Are there obstacles to
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Janet is the owner of a small business, Add Some Flair, and is
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www.addsomeflair.ca • 519-527-2682
43057 Winthrop Rd, Seaforth • info@addsomeflair.ca