Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2017-06-14, Page 13Huron Residential Hospice Campaign to obtain property for palliative Ar care residence in Huron County Kathleen Smith Postmedia Network A palliative care hospice could be in operation in Huron County if campaigns to raise enough money to fund and maintain the residen- tial hospice are successful. Last week at a Huron County Council meeting in Goderich, Kathy O'Reilly, co-chair of the Huron Hos- pice Committee and Lisa Penner, of South West Hospice Palliative Care Network, briefed the Council on the progress of the Huron -Perth solu- tion for a residential hospice. "Palliative care is improving quality of life for those living with or dying from an advanced illness. It allows the families to have the support they need and the residents to have the supports they need when end of life is approaching," explained O'Reilly. "What is important for them (those terminally ill) was the opportunity to die in a location that was close to fam- ily and accessible and close to home." According to O'Reilly and Pen- ner, Huron County is the second oldest in the southwest, and it has the highest number of people that are 65 years of age or older, only secondary to Grey County. Based on the statistics presented in the briefing, according to O'Reilly, over 35 per cent of residents living in Huroii County will be 65 years of age or older by the year 2040. "Palliative care isn't just a bed. Our program is one that is holistic in nature and will respond to the needs of not only the resident or client who is facing that end of life journey, but also support their families in terms of emotional care counselling," O'Reilly said. The briefing presented informa- tion to Council on the residential hospice solution plan, which would include a two -campus site model: One with six beds in Strat- ford, and one in Central Huron on Wednesday. June 14, 2017 • Huron Expositor 13 Highway 8, with four beds. One single board, the I lospice Care Avon Maitland, %villi a singular management system team, will gov- ern the ten -bed hospice. It will include aspects such as pri- mary care certified palliative physi- cians with support services from ded- icated nurses, staff and volunteers. In addition, it will have a strong vol- unteer component that rests within the current I Iuron I lospice Program. Palliative care is therapy to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for those facing end of life and a $2.5 million campaign was launched on May 7, in order to raise money to obtain the house and property on Highway 8, in order to begin operations. O'Reilly also provided information on a $1, 000 a day operational cam- paign (money will go towards running the hospice for the day). Currently, 23 separate individuals have made $1, 000 donations, some of which are to honour and memorialize loved ones who have already passed on. "This is about the entire Huron County. It's about a service that advances and builds on the stellar services we currently have within the County, and we believe that this will be a service that is needed for our County residents;" said O'Reilly. After the briefing, there remains to be no known future date of when the house and property will be obtained, or when the Huron County Hospice will be operational. Walton Raceway hosted amateur Motocross national qualifier Medical staff arrived on the scene after a competitor took a spill, he walked off okay and the Catching some serious air at Walton Raceway crowd gave him a clap. June 11. The dirt was flying with kids as young as four -years -old, all the way to racers in their mid 40's. Shaun Gregory Roughly 20 classes of Motocross racers battled to earn a spot at the Parts Canada TransCan Grand National Motocross in Walton -an event that involves 600 of the best Motocross racers in the country. 43079 Hullett-McKillop Rd., R.R. #4 Walton 519-527-0761 Growing Every Year Remember Dad with a plant that will last! Trees including Memorial Trees such as Red Oaks, shrubs or his favourite perennial Great Selection of perennials, flowering shrubs and shade trees.