When the new residential hospice opened at Seasons retirement community, I knew that in time I would be visiting there. People whom I was visiting at home or in hospital would be transferred there for the best palliative care possible.

               I was right. I am visiting people in the residential hospice now.

               It’s an interesting experience.

               To be sure, there have been teething difficulties. Setting up such a complex organization in the current health care environment is a monumental task. Our thanks should be expressed to Ruth Lovell and the hospice board members who pulled people together and got behind the idea so that end of life care in our community would happen, not just in the residential hospice, but across the region.

               Locating the hospice in an existing residential community in an interesting idea. The residents of Seasons should be thanks for their hospitality. It’s not easy to live in a community where those who are dying are beyond the doors at the end of the hall.

               Because of its location, you really do have to know the route to get to the residential hospice. There are signs along the way. Finally, you approach the frosted doors and enter.

               The hall and rooms are all light and airy. There is a feeling of peace and settlement. There is quiet, but not dead silence. Windows are open. Curtains are pulled back. Soft music plays in the rooms.

               Families move in and out of the rooms of their loved ones with ease, checking with staff, doing what needs to be done.

               Over the years, I have been in many palliative care situations. I have sat at the bedside at the moment of death. I have held the hands of the dying and offered my presence and prayers in those last moments of life.

               There was usually a respectful peace to the movement from life to death. This is as life is and death follows life as easily and naturally as night follows day.

               I have also seen horrible, pain-wracked death, where little medical comfort was offered or received and everyone knew the meaning of suffering.

               In my visits to our residential hospice I saw all of the former and none of the latter. From the moment I walked in there was a respectful peace. Staff were supportive and genuinely helpful. Volunteers were kind and caring.

               At the same time, none of this comes without cost. The South West LHIN provides core funding, this project is also highly dependent upon community support.

               According to Scott Lovell, the Executive Director of the residential hospice, they will need to raise $400,000 from the community every year. Some things may come in kind. Some funds may come through memorial donations. There may also be legacy gifts through wills and bequests. But it will take dedicated, ongoing fundraising to keep the work of the residential hospice moving forward.

               I am not a supporter of the movement in Canada towards assisted suicide. I believe that death is a natural part of life and living, no matter what one’s spiritual beliefs. None of us can run or evade or postpone death. 

               We can, however, provide the best possible environment and care for dying.

               Recently, Canadian palliative care pioneer Dr. Balfour Mount was interviewed about his own death. In response to the question, “How are you going to die?” Balfour Mount replied, “I would far prefer to be asleep consistently until I die, as I described in my paper When Palliative Care Fails to Control Suffering, 20 years ago. The goal isn’t to kill, but to improve quality. It is a palliative goal.”

               Recently, another palliative care pioneer, Dr. Larry Librach, when asked about his own impending death from cancer, said “I’m dying and I will die naturally.” And he did, earlier this month.

               The Residential Hospice of Grey Bruce gives us the quality of care we need in the last of our life. I look forward to it becoming part of my own work in spiritual care, as it cares for you.

Rev. David Shearman is the minister of Central Westside United Church, Owen Sound and the host of Faithworks on Rogers TV - Grey County, Cable 53.