Hospice to open in Annapolis Valley in 2019

Thursday was a long time coming for Dianna Patterson.

Patterson is part of a group that's worked for more than a decade to bring a residential hospice to Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, and on Thursday that goal became a reality: the provincial government committed funding for a 10-bed hospice in Kentville.

The Valley Hospice Foundation will pay up to $3.3 million for construction costs, while the Nova Scotia Health Authority will spend an estimated $1.7 million a year to maintain and operate the site, to be constructed on property near the Valley Regional Hospital.

'It feels glorious'

"Sixteen years is a long time for a volunteer group to work on one single project," said Patterson, the foundation's chairwoman. In an interview, she said reaching this point "feels glorious."

"I can't put into words how good it feels [that] now we can start looking at developing a design that works for here around this campus — the hospital campus — and we can actually start digging."

The hospice will offer a home-like setting for people with a terminal illness, allowing families to cook meals together and spouses to stay overnight. Patterson said people remained committed to the effort because of the need. Valley Regional Hospital doesn't have a palliative care unit, although care is provided in other areas of the hospital.

"I've had experience with other hospices in other parts of the country and it's desperately needed here," she said.

An important part of end-of-life care

Tricia Cochrane, vice-president of integrated health services for the health authority, said the hospice will serve as an important part of the province's palliative care strategy, joining home care and other services that help people with end-of-life care.

"We don't want to overly medicalize everything," she said.

"[With] end-of-life care, some patients need medical interventions, but many don't. So once the medical interventions are in order, then let's support people to die in other settings."

Foundation was 'like a hurricane'

Premier Stephen McNeil paid tribute to the health-care staff and members of the foundation who have stuck to their goal, noting pledges are already in place to cover the cost of construction.

"This is a culmination of your hard work and your commitment," he said.

"Every time there was an obstacle, you were like a hurricane [that] just picked up more steam, and that's a positive thing."

Second hospice in Nova Scotia

The site in Kentville will make the second hospice in the province, following a previous announcement of one for Halifax.

The foundation will now turn its attention to a design and having the land surveyed, with plans to begin construction next year and open in 2019. Meanwhile, the health authority is developing care and admissions standards for the site.