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Ontario’s hospices
are community-based volunteer organizations. Their mission is to help people with
life-threatening illnesses live at home or in a home-like setting as comfortably
and as fully as possible. In the case of Durham Hospice, our Hospice Care Volunteers are part of an interdisciplinary team which includes the entire family, physicians, nurses, coordinators, social workers, community support services, occupational therapists and spiritual counselors. Durham Hospice palliative care is about caring, not curing and about living in dignity and in comfort until the very end of life. It is the care that helps make a very difficult life passage a meaningful one for people facing death and their loved ones. Hospice care provides many benefits that supplement the traditional health care system. Hospice care is provided by trained volunteers who come from all walks of life. They assist with numerous non-medical tasks and provide support and companionship. They recognize the special needs of families facing life-threatening illnesses and aspire to uphold the dignity, respect and confidentiality of those with whom they work. Various professionals provide input and support to Durham Hospice on a volunteer basis.
To understand more fully click on this line and take the time to read about
real clients - their situations, their feelings and how Hospice helps. What are bereavement services? Bereavement services are available to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one and would like support to walk through the pain. One-to-one support, drop-in-group-support, and 6-8 week support groups are available, depending on your need. People grieve in their own unique ways ~ we are also able to help you use photographs and scrap-booking supplies to create your own photo album of a life journey, create a photo collage, create a page celebrating a specific time, or your own creative idea. Bereavement Drop-In Schedule This bereavement service is available to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one and would like support to walk through the pain. Please join us in a time of confidential sharing and support. See "Our Services" for times of meetings.
How to access hospice or bereavement services. Anyone can contact Durham Hospice for help or to make a referral by calling the main office at (905) 430-4522 or (888) 790-9414. Back To Top What do hospice or bereavement services cost? There is no fee. Costs for the staff and physical infrastructure needed to support our volunteers are funded through a grant from the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care, private gifts, in-memoriam donations and fund-raising activities. Donations are always welcome. Durham Hospice provides services to the residents of Durham Region. Referrals can be made to other hospices bordering our area. Back To Top What do our hospice and bereavement service volunteers do? Volunteers maintain contact with the patient and family through visits and phone calls. Volunteers help individuals and families by providing companionship, and may assist with errands, recreation, child care, light meal preparation and crafts or transportation. Volunteers contribute to a family’s emotional well-being and assist to maintain the family’s physical energy. The presence of a volunteer enables the family and caregivers to feel comfortable in taking time away from home. Volunteers also support individuals through the bereavement period. Back To Top
for a copy of the By-Laws click here Back To Top
Helen Brenner - President Eric Grossman - Treasurer March Burch Rev. Richard Hamilton Arlene Inkster Mary MacDonald Diane Moore Jody Owen Evelyn Pogue Patrick Rebers Ann Spice Back To Top
Kirsten Schmidt-Chamberlain - Executive Director
Alyson Miller - Volunteer Coordinator Karen Popowich - Hospice Care Coordinator Sheila Riske - Hospice Care Coordinator Trisha Bower - Bereavement Care Coordinator Kathryn Roberts - Bereavement Care Coordinator Back To Top
Strategic
Plan
Strategic Plan
2003-2006 How you can help Durham Hospice Like any charity, Durham Hospice is always seeking financial support for its vital services. Your assistance in this regard would be most gratefully received. We are also in need of volunteers who provide help to clients. Before starting, volunteers are given a comprehensive training course. This training addresses techniques of care, communication skills, stress workshops, and other support services. Volunteers can also help with community
education, office work,
fund-raising events and support in other
areas. Myths about Hospice Truth: Hospice is a philosophy of care, not always provided in Truth: With hospice, the miracle isn't in the cure... it's in the Truth: Hospice serves people of all ages, with all types of life-threatening diseases. These illnesses include, but are not limited to; AIDS, ALS, Cancer and vascular and neurological diseases. Truth: Hospice care can be provided when a cure is no longer Truth: While family and friends are usually trained to care for loved ones at home with the support of a trained Hospice team, not everyone has access to the support of family and friends. Clients who live alone or don't have family available to assist them can receive hospice care. Truth: Hospice recognizes that end of life care is diverse, stressful and frightening. We encourage clients and their families to consult with us shortly after diagnosis, so as to ensure the client and their family are aware of the variety of options available to them. Friends or family members of those with a life threatening illness can contact hospice at anytime without a referral from a doctor. |
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Our Vision It is Durham Hospice's vision that volunteer hospice care and bereavement services will be available and accessible to all individuals and families living with a progressive life threatening illness in our community. Our Mission Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families facing a progressive life threatening illness or bereavement through volunteer support and education in partnership with the community. Our Values We respect the values, choices and diversity of individuals and families. We believe that the focus of hospice care is caring, not curing, life, not death. We value respectful collaboration in our endeavours to improve the quality of life of individuals facing a life threatening illness. We believe that quality of family life and living in dignity are part of the compassionate vision of Durham Hospice. 
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