Sakura House Provides Dignity For All During a Trying Time

Friday, 5 February 2016 08:21

Sakura House depends on the generosity of the community to provide the services they offer at no cost to Oxford County families.

WOODSTOCK - For the past 7 years the Sakura House hospice has been providing end of life care for people in Oxford County.

They offer a number of amazing services and provide a beautiful place for people to spend their final days with round the clock care and support for the families. Fund Development Coordinator Kyra McNamara tells Heart FM the type of reaction they have received from families in the past.

"The word that comes up the most often is dignity. In the type of care and regard that their loved one gets when there here, that is the word that really rings true; that we treat them with dignity and respect for all of the days that they have left."

The Hospice is free for anyone in Oxford County and they have 10 beds available. They typically run at full capacity and each room has a pull out couch and reclining chair for loved to stay as well. McNamara adds they also have programs available and services available for friends and family with loved ones going through Hospice care.

"Friends and family that are there to support them, they are the ones that will continue to grieve the loss. So from the time they join us here bereavement services are available, as well as after the patient passes away, we do follow up with our families for a full year afterwards."

She adds they do get some funding, however they rely a lot on the support of the community.

"It cost approximately $1.4 million to run the hospice for one full year, of that we get about $900 000 from the Ministry and that covers our front line staffing needs and our immediate care needs. All of the other funds we have to fundraise for."

She says every year they have to raise $500 000 which is why they rely so heavily on fundraisers like Hike for Hospice and Handbags for Hospice and the generosity from the community throughout the year. They raised $141 000 at Handbags for Hospice this year.