StettlerLocal.com August 7, 2020 @ 4:35 PM
On Friday, August 7, the Stettler Hospice Society was pleased to open the brand new hospice suite at Points West Living. Two years of fundraising enabled the society to not only rent a corner of the building with a private entrance, but furnish it as well. The suite is both accessible for medical care and has a comfortable, homey feel.
This suite is intended for terminally ill patients and their family members to stay and access care from doctors and nurses in the end of life stage. Many patients in this situation wind up in hospitals so that they can access more medical care than an at-home service would provide, but this hospice suite provides much more comfort than a hospital room and allows a patient’s family to stay with them long-term.
The suite has two bedrooms plus a sofa bed in the living room, and the patient bedroom is equipped with a hospital-style bed and plenty of room for medical staff to move around. There are large windows for a great view of the courtyard. There’s also a full kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave, and a full-size refrigerator/freezer, although Points West can cater meals if needed. The bathroom is large and easily accessible, with a wide shower stall flush to the ground and a wheeled seat inside.
The space itself is more than the sum of its parts, however. The Stettler Hospice Society chose warm and comforting furniture to remind families of home, including soft lighting, small plants, and art on the walls. Sheer curtains make sure the suite is private but warmly-lit, and the location in a corner of the ground floor makes sure that families and patients can access the outdoor spaces easily. It is obvious that great care and thought went into this wonderful space.
A memory tree in the hallway by the entrance to the suite reminds families of all of the donors who believe strongly that “this town and county want, need, and deserve a hospice,” according to Dr. Maureen Drummond, President of the Stettler Hospice Society Board.
She said that the goal of this new suite is to “make a patient’s last days the best they can possibly be. The worst part of dying is the fear and not knowing,” and this comforting place will allow a patient to live out their last days surrounded by family in privacy and peace.
Although today was the official grand opening, the hospice suite’s first patient and their family will move in next month. The grand opening ceremony was massively well-attended, despite the pouring rain. Guests were allowed in to view the suite a small number at a time, and everyone present wore masks. Even the serving of refreshments was done carefully and safely, as befits a facility for some of Stettler’s most vulnerable.
If you’d like to learn more about the Stettler Hospice Society, join the board, volunteer, or donate to this fabulous cause, please visit stettlerhospice.org.
Alix Adair, Reporter
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