Local and area residents have increased care options with the opening of 10 new hospice beds at the Points West Living continuing care facility.
The beds, operated in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Grande Prairie Hospice Palliative Care Society, are designed to meet the medical, psychological, social, spiritual and practical needs of patients who require end-of-life care, and their loved ones. Hospice care helps to relieve suffering and improve quality of life.
The 10 new beds complement six palliative care beds at the QEII Hospital. Hospice beds are typically located in a home-like setting; palliative beds in an acute care setting.
“End-of-life care is an integral part of the health care system for patients and their loved ones. It’s important these individuals get all of the support they need at this time in their lives,” says Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Infrastructure and MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti.
Adds Everett McDonald, MLA for Grande Prairie-Smoky: “Today’s opening increases the number of hospice beds in Grande Prairie, and in human terms, that means more of our residents can approach end-of-life in comfort, with dignity, surrounded by the people they love.”
These are the only hospice beds in northern Alberta attached to a supportive living facility.
“We are always working to maximize our residents’ quality of life, choices and options by providing individualized care,” says Rob Haberman, part-owner of Points West Living., “Hospice care celebrates life and helps support both patients and their families through their unique journey.”
Shelly Pusch, Vice President of the North Zone of AHS, says adding hospice beds to a supportive living facility gives residents and their families a wide range of care options as their personal and health needs evolve. “We look forward to our continued relationship with Points West Living to meet the needs of our growing and changing community,” says Pusch.
Connecting Care, the company that owns and operates Points West Living, is a leading independent provider of assisted living, long-term care, and retirement residences. For more information about Connecting Care and Points West Living, please visit http://www.pointswestliving.com/.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.8 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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