Hospice Muskoka is looking to fully launch its new Andy’s House at Home program once provincial funding is secured.
Donna Kearney, the recently appointed CEO of the organization, said the new program will support individuals within their final year of life, extending the care model established at Andy’s House, which traditionally focuses on the final three months.
“Andy’s House at Home has already been launched through a ‘Proof of Concept’ Phase where 15 people were managed by a Nurse Practitioner employed by Hospice Muskoka,” she said.
Kearney noted that the board approved a ‘soft launch’ phase last October, allowing for the enrollment of up to 75 people.
She said the program features a Nurse Practitioner-led team and has been integrated into a palliative referral pathway in partnership with the Cottage Country Family Health Team and other local providers.
“At this point the program is funded 100 per cent by donations,” said Kearney. “Once we receive provincial funding, we have plans to move to the final phase of the program which will serve approximately 300 people each year through a Hospice Muskoka led team.”
Kearney said they will continue to work closely with health system partners to ensure palliative care is delivered at home with ‘excellence and timeliness.’ She said the goal is to keep patients out of the emergency room and support them in their own homes for as long as possible.
“Muskoka’s population is 12 years older than the provincial average according to data found on the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Units website,” she said. “The impact to our healthcare system is already being felt; imagine what the next 20 years will look like as the boomers pass through the system. Muskoka is the canary in the coal mine.”
According to Kearney, the organization also plans to increase its service reach by expanding various programs through several key collaborations. These include Caregiver Education via Champlain Hospice, Advanced Care Planning with RVH and the Regional Cancer Centre, and Grief and Bereavement services supported by the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
