Welcome to the FAQ section of Aboyne Rural Hospice. Here, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about hospice care to provide you with the information you need. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
What exactly is a hospice?
Hospice care focuses on the care, comfort (pain management), and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life. The Aboyne Rural Hospice will provide round-the-clock support for its residents, with a holistic focus on nurturing a person’s physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
How does a community acquire a hospice?
Through its residents' efforts, they must raise all of the capital required to build, maintain, and operate a hospice. Donors and volunteer fundraising efforts that may or may not be supported by the province provide funding. For capital construction costs, the province may grant up to $250,000 per Ministry-approved hospice bed and $145,000 per bed for a ten-bed hospice that only covers clinical staff salaries.
What does it cost to stay at a hospice?
There are no fees for staying at a hospice or using its services.
Why do we need a hospice for rural Wellington?
Our goal is to bring end-of-life care closer to home. Currently, local families must travel to Guelph or Waterloo to receive hospice care. This distance can be a barrier to care, especially in bad weather, or for those with no transport or with physical limitations. Furthermore, our proposed site can be easily integrated into our existing local health care framework, with ease of access and overlapping care providers from our hospitals, family health teams and elder care facilities.
Do I need a medical referral to receive residential hospice care?
Yes. Most people are referred to hospice by a member of their medical care team. They must meet admission criteria. Referrals are channeled through the Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) care coordinator.
What services are offered at a residential hospice?
Services may vary but may include:
Does the individual have a say in their treatment and care?
Yes. Our attention is solely on you and your requirements. Staff will work with you to tailor their approach to your preferences.
How involved are family and friends in a patient’s care?
Family and friends are essential care team members, but are not responsible for the patient's care. You can participate to the extent that you are comfortable with.
Why would someone choose end-of-life care in hospice rather than in hospital or home?
The hospice setting is designed to be as peaceful as possible and to provide a comfortable environment for caregivers, family and friends to gather, grieve, and cherish the last days of those at end of life. In a hospital setting, this is often more difficult due to restrictions of space and privacy.
Dying at home can be a good option for some but it can be very physically, emotionally and logistically difficult for others. The hospice setting can allow caregivers, friends and family members to shift from being primary caregivers to being present with the person who is dying. This enables them to take care of their own emotional needs as well as those of the dying person.
How many beds will there be?
Ten hospice beds.
Will ten beds be enough for our community?
Hospice Wellington serves Guelph and Wellington County with its ten beds. However, these are not enough to address the need for 9.3 additional beds to address rural Wellington County’s needs. Almost half of our local palliative care patients are dying in acute care beds.
Testimonials
One could see the physical and emotional stress on my mother trying to care for my father, especially after the nurse left for the evening. It was a challenge to persuade my siblings to let my father go to a hospice. We could have lost both parents if they had not relented. The hospice proved to be the right decision for all concerned. The staff were excellent in attending to my father and to us.
Anonymous
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our proposed facility and the services we will offer, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
Write us
Through partnerships with small hospitals, residential hospices help hospitals move acute care or alternative-level care patients into more appropriate settings while freeing up hospital beds for emergencies.
2025 - Aboyne Rural Hospice Charitable No. 72798 2548 RR0001