Sudbury Hospice

In October 2005, the Ontario government announced $4.4 million in annualized funding available for nursing and personal support for nine residential hospices. In future years, up to 34 approved residential hospices will be funded based on a 10-bed model at approximately $580,000 annually for nursing and personal support services.

The Ontario government also recognized Maison La Paix (MLP) as a leader in residential hospice palliative care in Sudbury and approved MLP to receive operational funding for a community residential hospice starting in 2007/08. In order for Sudbury to be eligible to receive residential hospice service support, a building that meets the Hospice Association of Ontario Community Residential Hospice Standards must be built and ready to serve palliative and end-of-life residents.

In January 2006, a feasibility report, commissioned by Maison La Paix and funded by FedNor, recommended the creation of a bilingual generic community residential hospice in Sudbury. The report indicated that, annually, between 1,200 and 1,300 individuals are in need of palliative care in Sudbury. In addition, the report pointed out that many dying individuals cannot be maintained in their home settings and end up being admitted to hospital or being placed in a long-term care facility to die.

A Community Residential Hospice Steering Committee of the Maison La Paix Board, comprised of representatives from MLP and community partners, was set up to lead the development of the project. Its mandate was to develop policies and procedures, building design, partnership agreements, capital funding requests, a communication and lobbying strategy and a governance model for the future community residential hospice. Eight working groups were set-up under the guidance of MLP and the Steering Committee: Land & Building, Programs & Services, Mission & Vision, Marketing, Finance, Capital Campaign, French Services, and Operational Fundraising. On August 31, 2006 My Sudbury Needs A Hospice Campaign was launched to raise funds for this exciting project.

Community residential hospices are essential for people living with a life-threatening illness who can no longer be cared for in their own homes. They offer compassionate and cost effective care for people who do not require the expensive and highly technical care available in an acute care hospital unit. They are designed to meet the needs of a patient and his or her loved ones when the curative approach is no longer achievable.