It’s the beginning of a new era for hospice care in Saskatoon, with the opening of a free-standing 15 bed facility called the Hospice at Glengarda.

The hospice will be run by Emmanuel Health, and President and CEO Jean Morrison says in the past people who needed end of life care had to go to hospital, and there aren’t always beds available for people that need that.  She suggests the hospice will expand that continuum of care and provides an option they didn’t have before.  The 15 bed hospice will be for people whose end of life care cannot be managed at home, and Morrison says it will provide care in a very warm home-like setting, with staff focused on providing end of life care.

Along with 15 rooms, the 2 floor hospice has 3 outdoor patio areas, multiple kitchen and common areas, a spa room on each floor, a commercial kitchen and a number of small family areas.  Each patient room and spa room is also equipped with ceiling track lifts, to help staff mobilize patients when needed.  Morrison says in non-COVID times it will be a space that will be very open to families and other support staff, but current COVID-19 restrictions will limit visitors in the facility.

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Morrison says the facility will be staffed by kitchen, maintenance and housekeeping staff that will be in an out everyday.  In terms of care, there will be a mix of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and continuing care aides.  During the day, Morrison anticipates 5 care staff will be in the hospice, and overnight 3 staff will be in building.  She says staffing levels will be monitored to make sure that system is working.  Spiritual care practitioners, various healing arts like a writer and musical therapy, and bereavement services will also be made available.

Morrison says they are grateful to all donors who raised $21 million to fully fund construction of the hospice as well as renovations to palliative care at St. Paul’s hospital.  Most recently $250,000 was donated by Orano Canada.

Morrison explains admissions will be through the centralized referral process and if people are wondering if a family could benefit from the hospice they should talk to their care providers to see if it is the right option.

Emmanuel Health’s board is responsible for the governance of 12 catholic health facilities across Saskatchewan that deliver a mix of acute care, special care services and some housing.  The 15-bed Hospice at Glengarda is located on Hillard Street East and Melrose Avenue, and is owned by St. Paul’s Hospital and operated by Samaritan Place, a fellow subsidiary of Emmanuel Health.

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