Hometown Media Stettler was recently invited on a tour of the hospice suite at Points West Living.
The two bedroom suite opened in 2021, and provides an alternative to end of life care for loved ones in their final days. The suite provides the privacy found in seniors independent living, while also having nursing staff on hand to provide any needed assistance.
“You don’t have to be a resident here. This is to support our community and surrounding areas.” says Amanda Whittemore, General Manager of Points West Living. “We have licensed practical nurses here 24 hours a day. We also have health care aides and care aides to support any needs that the residents or families have.”
The Stettler Hospice Society formed in 2018, and surveyed the community about the need for this type of care. Despite the challenges Covid-19 brought, the community came together to fundraise and the suite was able to open in January of 2021.
“We want to thank the community because without you guys, this couldn’t run.” says Chad Dalsin, President of the Stettler Hospice Society. “We do lots of fundraising to ensure that this is free for everyone. Every time we hold an event, the community steps up and we raise a lot of money from you guys for the suite and we just want to say thank you.”
If you are at a point where you’d like to see the hospice, come in anytime. We’re happy to give a tour. “ says Carol Dyck with the Stettler Hospice Society.
“The process has to go through your doctor, of course. The doctor has to determine that it really is the end of life. That can be anywhere from 30 days to three months. So people say oh, if I’m not in my last week, I don’t need to move in. Please feel free to come in sooner.”
Looking ahead, the society is interested in purchasing another two bedroom suite at Points West for hospice care.
In the future, a stand alone facility for hospice care could be looked at if they could show A-H-S the demand is there for the service. For more information on the suite and fundraising efforts, visit https://www.stettlerhospice.org/
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
