Updates

Check NEWS for past and current articles about Dignity House Hospice and the hospice movement in Lanark County.

The Rideau St. Lawrence Masons donated a total of $17,600+ to the Residential Hospice Fund!

$10,000 from the Smiths Falls Transportation Group of the area Masons

Going into the Fall of 2011 Dignity House Hospice finds itself gaining momentum...

So much can happen so quickly it is hard to keep up.  Community support is growing in leaps and bounds.  The Day Hospice is full - six regular clients and a full schedule of activities, guest speakers and outings.  We will celebrate a full year of operation on January 16th 2012.  The second phase of our mission - to open a residential hospice for residents of Lanark County - is becoming a more attainable goal and we hope to have something in the works within the next 12 to 18 months.  We have a Dinner-Dance Hospice Hop planned for Saturday November 12th 2011 - all proceeds will go towards our building fund.

The Board and Volunteers of Dignity House Hospice have been very busy as we move forward into 2011.  Here are a few highlights:

January 10th was the Day Hospice Program Open House - Mr. R. Hillier, our local MPP attended and made a brief speech to the over 100 people guests that attended this information day.

January 17th heralded the first day of Day Hospice Program with two out of five registered clients attending.  (The other three were too unwell to attend).

February 14th saw the end of the first month of Day Hospice Program with four our of five registered clients attending a fun Valentine's Day celebration and visit from a therapeutic dog named Maggie.

Every Monday of Day Hospice we have had the pleasure of four dedicated Dignity House volunteers and volunteer complementary therapists.  We also have enjoyed homemade soups and sandwiches, juices and dessert from Carolina Retirement Suites, fresh coffee, tea and hot chocolate from our special single-serving hot drink machine from Canadian Tire.

Each day of the program thus far has been made possible by a business, organization or individuals in our community - Rotary Club of Perth, Canadian Tire - Perth, Salvation Army Thrift Shop - Perth, Lotus Wings, and the family of Cecile Clayton-Gouthro.  Think you might want to become part of the Day Hospice Sponsor Program?  Contact us today!

Saturday January 29th was the Dignity House Hospice Capital Campaign kick-off for the Residential Hospice Building Fund!  We are pleased to announce that with the support of our Gold Event Sponsors,  Bayshore Home Health - Smiths Falls, Metroland Media Group - Carleton Place, Civitan Club of Perth, O'Dacre Family Funeral Home - Perth and Lannin Funeral Home and Chapel - Smiths Falls, the Saturday January 29th 2011 1st Annual Winter Dinner-Dance Fundraiser raised over TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000.00) towards establishing a residential hospice in Lanark County!

Our fundraising Dinner-Dance with...  

Many generous volunteers from a variety of Lanark County agencies, and over 80 local businesses,

worked together to make this event such a success.  We would like to thank:

      We apologize if we missed anyone.   A most sincere thank you to everyone!

Dignity House Hospice Board of Directors Takes

Residential Initiative in a new direction for 2011!

The residential hospice program may be closer than you think!  The Executive Members of the Board of Directors took a tour of Hospice House for North Hastings in Bancroft.  What they found is that by following a "rural" model for the development of the residential hospice is far less expensive than going the way of large urban area hospices.  For $200,000 the residential hospice in Bancroft was up and running in under a year.  Now with four years under their belt, donations and grants continue to allow the hospice to run and even expand! 

With the population of Lanark County around 70,000, we believe that we can raise the initial $300,000 and more to open a 3 to 4 bed residential hospice that would be open to all residents of Lanark County 19 years of age and older who are deemed palliative and are in the last months of their lives.  Similar admission criteria apply for the Day Hospice Program opening on Monday January 17th 2011.

This will not be a 'death house' as some community members have suggested.  Rather this will be a house where lives are celebrated in a warm, caring, home-like atmosphere with care available 24/7.  Family and the clients will be the focus of the care delivered at Hospice House.

We are currently looking at a number of houses in the community.  We have the backing of a number of leaders in our community including our local MP, Scott Reid, MPP, Randy Hillier, the mayor of Perth, John Fenick, Dr. Robert  Delgrande, Dr.Paul Martin, Dr. Graeme Hendry, Dr. Leigh Wayhay and other local doctors, hospital CEO Todd Stepanuik, and St Paul's United Church, to name but a few. 

Join a growing number of Lanark County residents who support Dignity House.  Donating is as easy as going online, mailing a cheque to our contact address, or dropping off cheques or cash donations at Dragon Moon or Jo's Clothes in downtown Perth.

Watch the local newspapers, listen to Lake 88.1 and look for posters in your community.  Dignity House Hospice will be here soon.  Your donations are your vote to have hospice and palliative care in Lanark County! 

Halloween is just around the corner and momemtum is buidling as the final pieces for the Day Hospice Program fall into place.  With the generous support of Tracey Foster, Manager of Carolina Retirement Suites, and funds from the Rotary Club of Perth, a variety of fundraisers, and the generosity of Lanark County buisnesses and residents, the Day Hospice Program is ready to open its doors to up to six clients.  We will be starting a fund raising campaign whereby businesses can sponsor a week, month or year of day hospice.

We plan to hold a Christmas fundraiser where, for a small donation, people can hang a red dahlia on a Christmas tree in homour of someone they have lost.  We hope to have this fundraiser in a variety of locations in Lanark County.

Come January, there will be an open house at McMartin House where the public can come and see where the Day Hospice Program is run, and learn more about the types of activities participants will enjoy.

At the end of January, the Perth Civitan Club is opening its doors for our 1st Winter Gala Fundraiser.  This dinner-dance will feature Beatlejuice and there will be door prizes, a silent auction, 50-50 draws and entertainment all round.  We have invited a VIP to MC, but that is still under negotiation.

Keep your eyes and ears open as many other exciting events will be happening with regards to palliative and hospice services in Lanark County.

The Day Hospice Program is set to open at the Carolina Retirement Suites on January 19, 2011!

With the fall upon us progress with the Day Hospice Program is full steam ahead!  Operational funds have been raised through various fund raising activities, community service clubs and generous donations from residents of Lanark County.  We have the staff, we have the volunteers, and we have the accomodation.  Watch for information about the program in local media.  Invitations to refer individuals who are in the palliative of end-of-life phase of their disease will be sent out to all health facilities in Lanark County.  Residents of Lanark County can refer theirselves by contacting our Day Hospice Coordinator at 613 430-4211.

Happy New Year to All!  As we move into 2010 our focus is on reaching our funding goal and open the Day Hospice Program at the Carolina Retirement Suites this year.  We will be gearing up for the Hike for Hospice in May, and working hard to raise awareness of our mission.  As our goals become more clear, we have opted to move forward with the more accurate name of Dignity House Hospice to reflect that fact that this initiative is for all the residents of Lanark County and not just Perth.  Please support Dignity House in any way you can so that we can start serving those members of the community who need our support sooner than later.

After receiving a number of generous donations from local supporters we are closing in on our goal to raise the first year of operational costs for the day hospice program!  With a mere $15,000 left to fund raise, we are confident that the clients of Lanark County will rally to support our initiative and we will reach our goal in time to go operational in 2010.  Our pin campaign (see side bar) has begun with a limited number of original dahlia pins that say 'Hospice' on them.  For $5.00 you get this beauitiful pin and support a great cause.  If you are part of an organization and would like to buy a package of pins, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Heading into the winter months, donations seem to be on the rise.  We will be in full throttle fundraising for the next two months.  Through a variety of campaigns we would hope to have sufficient funds to open the Day Hospice Program at the Carolina Retirement Suites in 2010.  Expect to see and hear a lot more about Dignity House in and around Lanark County in the near future.

As we go into October of 2009, we are excited by the many pieces of our plan that are falling into place for the opening of the Day Hospice Program.  The Carolina Retirement Suites of Perth have graciously offered us both space and meals to allow us to run the program.  A number of communicty service groups have expressed interest in helping with our first year start-up cost of approximately $25,000.  Lanark County United Way has honoured us with a grant recognizing the benefits to our community of our efforts to establish the Day Hospice Program.  Our Board is focused and news regarding our Day Hospice launch will be released in late fall of 2009.

We are already half way through March 2009 and a lot of things have been going on with Dignity House Hospice.  In January 2009, we welcomed 6 new members to our working Board of Directors who have expertise in everything from politics to journalism and health administration.  We are currently working on a new set of By-Laws and moving to a more formalized Board of Directors.  We are focused on starting the Day Hospice Program under the name of the Lanark County Day Hospice Program Initiative in June of 2009.  Our presentation to the Lanark County Council received a very positive response with multiple councilors coming forward to offer support, an approved motion to write letters of support to both the South-East and Champlain LHINs, and a request for an interview from the Perth Courier.

We have been very fortunate to find an ideal location for the Day Hospice Program.  For a small fee, McMartin House of Perth on Gore Street has committed the Rice Sisters' Parlour for five hours every Monday starting mid-January.  We have the volunteers.  We have the staff.  Now we just need the people! This program will cost a mere $12,000 for a full year program.  We will be seeking businesses and individuals to sponsor a day ($250), a month ($1000), or a year ($12,000) of Day Hospice to help provide support for clients of Perth and surrounding communities who are palliative, and to provide respite for their families and loved ones.

Where are we now?  

As life has become busier for everyone, and funding in this time of intense fiscal restraint is virtually non-existent, the Board Members have opted to pursue initiating a Day Hospice Program early in 2009.

We are working on a fundraising event to take place on Wednesday November 19th 2008.  An official announcement with details will be forthcoming within the next few weeks, so keep your ears and eyes open!

Capital and Start-up Campaign Underway!

We are in the process of raising capital and start-up funds.  We have 28 different foundations and corporations to whom we will be sending applications detailing our project.  Additionally, we will be sending individual letters to prominent businesses, service agencies, and clients in Perth that have a history of community support.  We aim to have this work completed for November 1st 2008.

Our Project Manager and Board member, Alanna Scanlon, was interviewed about Dignity House by Brian Perkin of Lake 88.1 on October 1st 2008 at 4:30pm.  Feedback from the interview has been very positive and even included a call from Mayor John Fenick.  We wish to thank him so much for taking the time to offer his support for Dignity House.

Over the course of the past three Saturdays in September 2008, two Board members have attended the Perth Farmers Market to distribute information about Dignity House, answer questions, gather names in support of the hospice, and to raise some money.  We spoke to around 200 people and raised a little over $80.00 in pocket change.  A very warm THANK-YOU to everyone who stopped to talk with us, ask questions make a donation of not just money, but of time as volunteers, and offer us artwork for auction.

On September 17 2008 we received the very frustrating news that Dignity House cannot depend on any start-up funding through the South-East Local Integrated Health Network (SE LHIN).  We had the option at this point of folding the project, going independent and raising $800,000 alone, or waiting until the SE LHIN changed its priorities with respect to residential hospices.  We have chosen to forge ahead!

Our goal is to raise $400,000 in the community, and request another $400-600,000 from grants and foundations.  We are confident that once local community support is proven and Dignity House Hospice is operational, the SE LHIN will be open to providing sustainable funding to the tune of $300 per client per day for the residential hospice, and $100 per client per day for a Day Hospice program.

It is official!  Effective immediately (and backdated to June 20, 2008) Dignity House Hospice is a registered Canadian Charity!  Our Charitable number is # 856314026.  Official tax receipts will be provided for all donations $25 or more, and will be sent out before the end of February 2009.  Should anyone require said receipt earlier, please do not hesitate to contact us at information@dignityhousehospice.ca.

A Fund Raising Fashion Show coordinated by local consignment store business entrepreneur Joanna McAuley is planned for November 19, 2008.  Details will be released as information is confirmed.

Board of Directors members will be on hand at the Farmers' Market at Crystal Palace in downtown Perth on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm September 6, 13, 20, and 27.  We will provide brochures about the hospice, answer questions, and accept donations.

You can expect to see another article in the Perth Weekender for the Labour Day weekend.  This time we look at whether or not a residential hospice is a duplication of health care services.  In the weeks following you will see articles dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of dying, what to do when someone dies, and how to access residential hospice care.

We had a very productive meeting on August 25, 2008 that included four guests -- a local chartered accountant who will help us set up our financial books, and help us file our first return as a charity in April 2009; a local retired LTC senior administrator who had much sage knowledge to share with us; a palliative care nurse from the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital; and a potential volunteer and spiritual counselor for Dignity House.

August 22, 2008: It is official!  Dignity House Hospice is a registered charity recognized by the Canadian Federal Government as a charity, and thus able to issue receipts for all donations over $25.00!

August 12, 2008:  Things are falling into place!  Dignity House may have a House Physician.  Negotiations will take place within the next 2-4 weeks.  Also, we have received our first two unsolicited donations for Dignity House Hospice!  A warm 'thank-you' to both of these families!

Our first newspaper article by Board Director Alanna Scanlon was published in the July 25th edition of the Perth Weekender.  We have already had a very positive response from the community, and will continue to submit educational articles to Ian Gray at the Perth Courier.  His, and his staffs', support is greatly appreciated!

Effective June 20th 2008, Dignity House Hospice is officially incorporated as a non-profit organization by the province of Ontario.

Registration with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency as a charitable organization is pending.  The file manager for Dignity House assures me that a decision should be forthcoming and has asked to be called at the end of August 2008 for an update on our charitable status.

July 15, 2008:  Despite our best efforts, the initial proposed site for Dignity House Hospice has been sold.  While this house was ideal for a residential hospice, the Dignity House Hospice Initiative is on track and will continue to operate full speed ahead.  Our Board of Directors will begin a new search of local realty -- a suitable building, or land.  If we are unable to find an appropriate pre-existing residence, we will look at building the hospice from the ground up.  If anyone is aware of, or is considering donating land or a building that might be suitable as a residential hospice, please contact us immediately.

National Hospice Palliative Care Week

May 4 - 10, 2008

"As Minister of Health, it is my pleasure to recognize National Hospice Palliative Care Week, which runs from May 4-10, 2008. This week is a great opportunity to celebrate all who work in the field of hospice palliative care and to inform Canadians about the importance of compassionate palliative care.

This year's theme is "Advance Care Planning - Let's Talk About it." Advance care planning is an important process of reflection and communication. It involves an individual making decision about future health care wishes in the event that the individual becomes incapable of giving informed consent. Although difficult sometimes, discussing these matters with family members, friends, and health care professionals can ease the difficulty some experience with this important decision.

National Hospice Palliative Care Week offers an opportunity for Canadians to hear about the importance of advance care planning in supporting the best quality of life possible as we near the end of our lives. Advance care planning tools are also available to help Canadians discuss their wishes with loved ones and care providers.

I invite Canadians to join me in recognizing and thanking all of those who work in this demanding field. These individuals work to ensure that good quality and compassionate palliative care is there when we need it, and their efforts benefit us all."

Tony Clement
Minister of Health

June 24th:  We were very fortunate to receive a letter of support for the Dignity House of Perth Initiative:

" Dignity House, how appropriate for those who require just that in their final stage of life, when all else is taken from them.  I offer my support and praise for those who care enough to provide such an alternative and option for those we love in their greatest time of need."

Sincerely yours

Barbara Rice

Following our meeting of May 13th,  the Board of Executive Directors of the Dignity House Hospice has agreed to make the Initiative public by the end of August 2008.  Watch for information on hospice and palliative care, as well as updates on Dignity House in the Perth Courier.

We have applied for Provincial incorporation and just recently have learned that our Articles of Incorporation have been approved.  Our application for charitable status with the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency is expected to take considerably longer -- up to 18 months.  While we are looking at other possible methods of fund raising and applying for Government and Private grants, the reality is that until we are registered as a charity, we cannot undertake a fund raising campaign.  As a consequence, the proposed site of Dignity House Hospice is in jeopardy until we are able to secure working capital.  At this time, we have appealed to both our local MPP, Mr. Randy Hillier, and our local MP, Mr. Scott Reid to champion our cause, and support the approval of charitable status for our Initiative.

For more information on these activities and upcoming plans for Dignity House, or if you would like to arrange a private donation, please feel free to contact:

Board of Executive Directors

information@dignityhousehospice.ca

Thank you for your interest and support of this project!