Heartland Hospice’s dream of expanding the Pioneer Lodge hospice care service in Moose Jaw has now made a “groundbreaking” stride forward, with renovations announced to begin on Monday, May 6th.
The announcement was made at the home’s Serenity Garden April 29 and saw minister Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) executives, Heartland Hospice executives, and members of C&S Builders Ltd. in attendance. The team at C&S Builders will perform the upcoming renovations at the home.
“I think this is an incredibly exciting announcement,” said Tim McLeod, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health, and MLA for Moose Jaw North.
“The community and the Hospice Foundation have been working very hard at this for the last couple of years raising the funds for this expansion with the hospice care here in Moose Jaw.
“I’m really excited to see the construction start and the dream becoming a reality,” he added.
Advocacy for the hospice expansion began in 2014, and since around 2018, Heartland Hospice – the driving force behind the project – has been working closely with the SHA, Ministry of Health, and its partners to make the project a reality.
To help raise funds, Heartland Hospice has also carried out numerous fundraiser events including the recent Spurs and Stilettos Cabaret on April 12.
As well, the Tim Horton's Smile Cookie campaign has chosen Heartland Hospice now for the third consecutive year. Proceeds from the happy-looking cookies have been added to Heartland Hospices' Capital Campaign, which was created to finance the hospice care project.
Once completed, the expansion will see three fully furnished hospice palliative care bedrooms added to Pioneer Lodge. These rooms will be situated alongside a fully renovated and furnished family room complete with library services and a kitchenette.
Outside, the renovation will provide a new look for the home’s Serenity Garden, which is located adjacent to the newly repurposed wing.
Karen Avrey, the executive director of continuing care for integrated rural health, said the project is something she’s been waiting to see happen for a long time.
“We have an extremely passionate organization in Heartland Hospice,” she announced, and described the organization as being “very strong advocates for our hospice care” and “an amazing group of people” to work with.
“We are really looking forward to being privileged to honour and offer this opportunity for the people in Moose Jaw and surrounding areas.”
Lynn McKenzie is the clinical manager at Pioneer Lodge and oversees Memory Lane, which is where transition beds intended for transfer to the new hospice care wing will be located.
“It’s something that the community needs,” McKenzie said. “We’ve had an increase in the amount of people that are accessing the palliative care beds.”
She said the new wing will include a space for families to stay with their loved ones, and families will have access to amenities including coffee, fridges, and comfortable family rooms.
“Not everybody can be at home for (their end-of-life journey), so to have a place where they can go to have good palliative end-of-life care is very important to have in our community,” McKenzie said.
If all goes according to plan, the new hospice care wing is expected to open by the end of 2024 possibly in or around December with a time and date to be announced.
For more information about Heartland Hospice or the new hospice care project at Pioneer Lodge, call 306-690-8699 or visit HeartlandHospiceMJ.ca.
Pioneer Lodge is located at 1000 Albert Street and can be reached at 306-693-4616.
