Four Tides Hospice Society has applied for $6,500 for general operating expenses from qathet Regional District’s (qRD) grant-in-aid program.
At the November 1 qRD finance committee meeting, Leslie Emory, interim executive director of the hospice society, appeared before the committee for the funding request.
Emory said the hospice has been in the community since 2014 and has been delivering services in two main formats. One is a one-on-one visitor volunteer program, where volunteers are trained to support clients who are nearing end of life. The hospice society also offers group services in the community.
“That aspect of our work has increased dramatically in the last couple of years,” said Emory. “The need has increased and that’s the piece I had submitted a request for funding to you. That piece is the grief groups we deliver.”
Emory said this includes a grief walking group that operates year-round and a full-on caregiver support group, which happens biweekly. She said there is also a series of advanced care planning workshops that support people to explore and develop and document their care plans.
“We’re the only ones doing what we do at the moment,” said Emory. “There’s lots of interesting things happening around the development of an actual hospice in the community, for which there is a great need.
“Right now., we are working with people where they are in the community, in their homes, in hospitals, in long-term care facilities, using the palliative supports that we can. In terms of this ask, we are currently funded to deliver this service through the New Horizons Seniors Program. The only challenge is that New Horizons pays minimally for salaries, which is only about a third of what we require for the projects.”
Emory said the society is requesting the support to staff the position for group services being delivered in the community.
Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said what the society is doing is valuable and she appreciates the effort it takes. She asked about the long-term goal of having a hospice facility and if that is something the society is continuing to work on.
Emory said the society has undertaken significant fundraising in previous years for the building of a hospice house. She said that project went to sleep a bit during COVID-19 and it has just been picked up again, thanks to many community members who have supported the work.
“The hospice society has met with Vancouver Coastal Health and it looks like the society will be moving forward in a much more concrete way,” said Emory. “You’ll hear more about that in the weeks ahead. The need continues, the will to do it is there, and we almost have our marching orders.”
The finance committee recommended that the regional board approve the $6,500 grant.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
