Q: $10 million dollars seems like a lot to build a 10 bed hospice. What goes into this cost?
A: The fundraising goal for Cowichan Hospice House is $10 million. This includes $8.7 to build and completely equip it. We will raise an additional $1 million to ensure the provision of psycho-social care for patients and their family members over the first 5 years of operations. This will cover the costs for Cowichan Hospice staff and volunteers to provide the practical, emotional and spiritual support for whole person care for the patient and their loved ones.
The budget also includes $300,000 for other project costs. Island Health has provided the land at Cairnsmore Place in Duncan and will fund the medical care and facility operating costs.
Cowichan Hospice House will be warm and home-like but it is also a specialized medical facility which must be built to current residential-care standards to ensure the excellent care of patients as well as the health and safety of family members and staff. As with all new government construction in BC it must be built to LEED Gold standards to minimize the environmental impact of its construction and operations.
Medical equipment in the building will include: lifts, special beds, including at least one bariatric bed, a hydrotherapy spa, and required features like a communications system, a secure medication storage room, clean and dirty utility areas, a servery for food, fire detection and deterrence equipment, etc. The comfort of patients in their rooms will be ensured with individual ventilation and heat control, flexible lighting to reduce glare while enabling medical exams as well as features like a small fridge, tv and display areas for photos and personal items.
Family will be supported during their time in the hospice with family kitchen and living areas, a separate space for children and youth, a sleeping couch in each patient room and a separate family sleep/work room. There is a sacred space to accommodate spiritual practices for individuals or for families.
Beautiful gardens provide views from each room, as well as access for people in beds or in wheelchairs and even for children on trikes.
Every week we will be posting a new Q&A regarding the Cowichan Hospice House and we want to hear from you! Please submit your questions to zoe.cvhs@shaw.ca or comment on these posts. We will do our best to answer all questions and engage in dialogue about this very important project. Like us on Facebook for more updates.
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