The dream for Ed’s House to serve as a 10-bed hospice hub in Northumberland will be realized this spring.
Construction crews have been hard at work since Feb. 5 on the expansion – which involves completion of an additional four hospice suites at the 18,000-square-foot hub. The additional suites will mean more help for residents at end-of-life and their loved ones starting around April, explained Sherry Gibson, director of hospice services.
“The four beds that are in our expansion were already roughed in, so it was a matter of putting in fixtures and equipment and furniture,” noted Gibson.
The goal was always for Ed’s House to serve as a 10-bed hospice as the community rallied to bring to life the Northumberland Hospice Care Centre in recent years – and when the hub swung open its doors in September 2020, it was built with this in mind. The additional beds/suites were dependent on future growth and ultimately, funding – but were planned for.
Late last year, following a funding announcement by MPP David Piccini, it was confirmed Ed’s House would fulfill its expansion dream this year.
“It is quite a completion of the original dream of a 10-bed hospice – so it’s pretty exciting for the group here,” remarked Joel Scott, director of donor relations and communications for Community Care Northumberland (CCN) and Ed’s House.
Annually, on average, staff and volunteers help 350-450 residents through a range of hospice, grief, bereavement and other supportive care-related services through CCN and the hospice. (In some years, this figure has surpassed more than 530.) On average, 150 are residents of Ed’s House and supported through its 24-7 end-of-life care/services.
And all services are offered to families at no cost.
In addition to the increased capacity, the expansion has made room for other benefits such as job creation – i.e. more staff will be needed to serve more residents.
Through the expansion, all suites will now also be equipped with oxygen and suction (existing suites are being retrofitted), with hopes of enabling more comfort for residents at end-of-life.
“Currently, what is happening is that that is all done portable, and now it’ll be a fixture, which will create a … better atmosphere – portable oxygen can get very noisy,” added Gibson.
But since government funding doesn’t cover all CCN/Ed’s House operating costs – or building costs for the additional rooms – the team will need Northumberland’s help, explained Scott.
Reflecting on the incredible number of individuals who rallied together to make Ed’s House a reality in recent years, this is a special time for them, too, noted Scott.
To learn more about the hospice and services, visit Ed’s House online where there is also donor and sponsorship information accessible. A formal fundraising announcement is to come.
Ed’s House is located at the corner of Ontario Street and Oliver’s Lane in the Township of Hamilton.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)