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Hospice Suite open at Stuart Nechako Manor

Northern Health and the Vanderhoof Hospice Society are pleased to announce a new palliative care option.
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Bedroom of new Hospice Suite at Stuart Nechako Manor.

Northern Health and the Vanderhoof Hospice Society are pleased to announce the start of local palliative care services at Stuart Nechako Manor.

Opening in early April 2017, the new Hospice Suite at Stuart Nechako Manor will provide a comfortable space for patients and their families to stay together during the final stages of a terminal illness while receiving care and support from physicians, staff, and volunteers trained in hospice palliative care.

The Vanderhoof Hospice Society and Northern Health collaborated to create this newly-purposed space for hospice palliative care, supported by significant donations to the Hospice Society from generous community members. The suite includes a care room for patient care, a companion room for loved ones to stay, and a compassion room with comfortable furniture, books, and a relaxing atmosphere.

Hospice palliative care services will continue to be provided in people’s homes; when it is not possible to manage care at home, the new Hospice Suite offers specific features to support a better experience of this stage of life. Currently, people who require hospital care while dying stay in the hospital; there is little dedicated space for families to stay with their loved ones, relax together, or talk privately with care providers.

Hospice is a philosophy of care which strives to assist those who are dying and their families by offering companionship, practical assistance, comfort care, and bereavement support. Hospice palliative care is provided by a team designed to meet each person’s unique needs, and may include alternate therapies and spiritual care.

“A range of hospice options is key to supporting patients at the end of a life’s journey. The Manor’s beautiful new hospice suite is a wonderful addition to the services available to support not only patients, but their families and caregivers” said John Rustad, Nechako Lakes MLA and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

“I am so pleased that Northern Health and the Vanderhoof Hospice Society were able to work together to create this space for hospice palliative care in Vanderhoof. It has been a pleasure helping with the development of the Hospice Suite, and working with the hospice volunteers. I look forward to providing hospice services in the community, in the hospital, and in the Manor, as well as in this beautiful space” said Valerie Pagdin, Hospice Care Coordinator, Vanderhoof Hospice Society.

- file from Northern Health press release