From left to right: Dennis Cochrane, Greg Turner, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Daniel Allain, Rene Bourque (Image by RL)
Southeast New Brunswick’s first residential hospice facility aims to see its first residents by June 30th.
Members of the Provincial and Federal government toured the 12,300 square foot facility on Friday. In attendance was Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Moncton South MLA Greg Turner and Minister Daniel Allain.
Attendees were given an opportunity to view the fine detailing and equipment that cost $4.7 million. It includes ten residential rooms, four family rooms, a meditation room and several other amenities.
“They’re not patients, they’re not clients, they’re residents,” said Dennis Cochrane, the Chair for the Hospice SENB Board of Directors.
Hospice SENB received donations from all levels of government (Image by RL)
The facility appears to have prepared for every possible scenario, whether it be a “cuddle bed” for loved ones looking to lay with their significant other or an automatic bedpan washer to ease the task staff must complete.
Cochrane says that in the initial planning stage, he questioned where bodies would be discretely collected after a resident passed away, he was profoundly touched to find out they would use the same door that they entered through, leaving with a ceremony surrounded by loves ones.
Of course, the ability to provide a comforting final home comes at a cost, but Hospice SENB has received a significant amount of help with funding.
The federal and provincial governments contributed $1 million each, with an additional $6 million given by donors that include 66 municipalities and service districts.
Cochrane believes Hospice SENB can be a “project serving all citizens of Albert, Kent and Westmorland counties.”
The Chair notes that they will have several other methods of generating funding over the years including their Hospice Shoppe.
A budget estimates that the annual operating cost will be about $1.4 million.
Hospice SENB aims to welcome it’s first residents by June 30th (Image by RL)
“About 780 thousand for the clinical staff and then you add on a cook, the cleaning, reception, the director, maintenance of the lawn, heat and light,” said Cochrane.
There will be about sixteen staff consisting of clinical and non-clinical employees. Cochrane says there has been a “good number” of people submit applications for positions at the hospice.
With a plan to welcome residents by the end of June, Cochrane says they will have staff in for a full week ahead of their opening to iron out any final wrinkles.
The average daily costs for a residential hospice bed is $460 compared to $770 for a hospital palliative care bed.
