The four hospices across Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton and Windsor-Essex are getting a financial boost thanks to an investment from the Ontario government. The local hospices will be receiving a total funding increase of $570,000 over three years, which works out to $15,000 per adult bed and $22,400 per pediatric bed. Chatham-Kent Hospice Executive Director Jessica Smith says they are still waiting on further details from the province on how exactly they are permitted to use the investment.
"With the increase in funding, obviously, we are anticipating that it will alleviate some of our pressures on our operating gap between funding and fundraising ," she says. "We are hopeful that we're able to put these dollars towards some priorities such as medical equipment and supplies, training and education , and other services." Normally, local hospices receive around $90,000 a year for each bed. All other money for operating costs must earned through fundraising. "Our funding is designated for very specific purposes and although the increase in funding is definitely beneficial, we will continue to rely on our donors and our volunteers," says Smith. The funding increase is part of a $75-million investment to palliative and end-of-life care that was included in Ontario's 2016 budget.