B.C. Government Provides $3.5 to Abbotsford Hospice Society

Abbotsford residents requiring hospice care will soon be able to receive the expanded services they need in their own community. The B.C. government is providing $3.5 million to support hospice services through the Abbotsford Hospice Society.

Hospices help improve the quality of life for those with a terminal illness. Continuing to reside in their own community is of great benefit to these patients, meaning their loved ones can visit more often and they are not completely uprooted for their final weeks.

Families and friends dealing with the anticipated death of a loved one are often under a great deal of stress. The resources provided by a hospice can help families come to terms with their loss.

Currently, Abbotsford has no residential adult hospice. The goal of the society’s Light the Way Campaign is to raise awareness and $7.5 million to help cover construction costs of the two-storey, 2,650-square-metre (28,500-square-foot) facility. The name Holmberg House honours the life and legacy of David Holmberg Jr., an Abbotsford resident whose family has made significant financial contributions to hospice, including the campus of care project.

The new hospice is just one facility that is being developed to provide further care for the people of Abbotsford. The City of Abbotsford has contributed land adjacent to the Abbotsford Regional Hospital, which will be shared with Matthews House and Canuck Place in a campus of care model.

The Ministry of Health developed the Provincial Framework for End-of-Life Care in 2006, which is used as a guide by health authorities and care providers in developing and delivering services to those in need.

Hospice care and support does not end after a loved one is gone. Bereavement services and grief support are available, free of cost. These are vital resources to help family and friends of all ages move on in a healthy way.