Comfort for patients and their families is a top priority for the Foothills Country Hospice, but it comes with a price tag.
The hospice, which accepted its first patient in 2008 at its scenic location just north of Okotoks, is one of five recipients of this year’s Western Wheel Cares Campaign.
“We have a wish-list of patients’ needs,” said Dawn Elliott, Foothills Country Hospice executive director. “What we are planning to do with the Western Wheel Cares money is put it towards the purchase of a love seat and couch for our family room, to replace the old ones that are there.
“We are also looking to replace our patient beds — and a patient bed costs about $10,000.”
The purchase of a patient bed or a couch for patients’ families to enjoy is all part of looking after all the needs of those at the facility.
“At a hospice we care for the whole patient, we look at the psycho-social needs as well as the physical needs,” Elliott said. “And because of our staff to patient ratio, we are able to give exceptional care.”
The facility has eight state-of-the art rooms for its patients.
Each of the rooms has the little extras the hospice can provide to make its patients’ final days of their life journey as comfortable as possible.
“Each room consists of a patient bed with Prime Aire mattress, recliner, Wi-Fi, fridge, private two-piece bathroom and independent climate control,” Elliott said. “We also have a queen-size hide-a-bed. A lot of family members like to stay with their loved ones, so they are able to stay right in the room with them.”
There is no cost to the patient, despite the bill being around $890 a day per patient.
“Of that, we receive 61 per cent from Alberta Health Services and we make up the rest through fundraising, donations and grants.”
The Foothills Country Hospice Society aims to raise approximately $1 million annually in fundraising, which includes funds from the Wheel Cares program.
However, it is the things you can’t put a price tag on that makes the hospice special to the patients and their families.
The hospice has hosted weddings, baptisms, and other events to meet the patients’ and their families’ needs.
That includes doing some film work which pulls at the heartstrings as hard as It’s A Wonderful Life.
“We had a young lady who was here and her eight-year-old daughter had a Christmas concert,” Elliott explained. “The young lady was unable to attend because of her health. Our volunteer co-ordinator (Betty George) went over on her own initiative, filmed the concert and passed it on to the mother to see.”
Though the hospice deals with the last days of a patient’s life, it’s a joyful atmosphere at the facility.
“For us, it’s about the living-end of the journey —it’s not doom and gloom when you get here,” Elliott said. “We have entertainers come in, we celebrate all the holidays, popcorn days, ice-cream days, birthdays, any special occasions,” she said.
Award-winning spiritual singer Kelita recently performed at the hospice for staff and patients.
The hospice will soon be putting up their spectacular Christmas lights for patients, their families and the community to enjoy.
Other recipients for the Western Wheel Cares fundraising initiative include the Okotoks Food Bank, Foothills Country Hospice, Sheep River Health Trust and Magic of Christmas.
To participate call Gayle Wolf at the Western Wheel office Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 403-938-6397.
Make a donation using your credit card, debit, cash or cheque (payable to Western Wheel Cares) at #9 McRae Street or mail to Box 150, Okotoks, AB T1S 2A2. Please do not mail cash.
Alternatively, visit www.westernwheel.com to donate using Paypal.
Donations of $10 or more will receive a 2015 official tax receipt at the end of the campaign.
For more information about Wheel Cares contact Gayle Wolf at 403-938-6397 or [email protected].
