The Dorothy Ley Hospice; caring for more people in our community
Etobicoke, January 25, 2023 – Demand on the province’s healthcare system for in-hospital care is at an all-time high. Our two-room expansion will take the Dorothy Ley Hospice from a ten to a twelve-bed residence and provide immediate temporary relief to the bed shortage in the province’s hospitals. An increase in care beds is critically needed to meet a growing demand for end-of life care for Ontario residents. This is a win-win-win for Ontarians.
“These beds will enable us to provide more, urgently needed, compassionate care to individuals living with life-limiting illnesses who would otherwise spend their final days in hospital,” says the Dorothy Ley Hospice Executive Director, Dipti Purbhoo. “We are incredibly grateful to the Ministry of Health for supporting our expansion our beloved donors for their contributions in making these rooms a reality, without support from the community, none of this would be possible.”
Residents at the Dorothy Ley Hospice receive around-the-clock care from an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals and volunteers in a home-like setting and family and friends are provided with counseling and self-care supports. The Dorothy Ley Hospice is a pillar in the community. For over thirty years the not-for-profit has served Ontario residents by providing hospice palliative care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses and bereavement and wellness services to the community. Dorothy Ley Hospice services are provided to the community at no charge thanks to the generosity of public donations, grants, and funding from the provincial government.
“Think of these not simply as two new beds for this wonderful facility, but rather in terms of uncountable individuals and families supported through the challenges of a life-limiting illness – for years to come,” expressed Etobicoke-Lakeshore MPP, Christine Hogarth.
Each room is equipped with hospital-grade equipment and soft finishings to provide a home-like atmosphere to residents through the duration of their stay. Each resident room is adorned with a quilt tapestry courtesy of the Quilters’ Guild – that represents community and connection to remind residents and loved ones that they have the support of a caring community by their side – upholstered furnishings – a sofa for in room visits or stays, artwork, photo boards, soft lighting, a television, and refrigerators to be added soon. Residents are invited to personalize their rooms with items from their home should they choose. These two rooms will undergo further improvements this the fall as part of a larger-scale renovation scheduled for the residence that will increase accessibility and bring new amenities to the Hospice.
About The Dorothy Ley Hospice
Established in 1990, the Dorothy Ley Hospice was created for the community, by the community. What started as an ambitious desire of a small congregation, at the St. George’s Church on the Hill, to provide compassionate end of life care to members of the community is now an award winning, not-for-profit, and acclaimed outreach and on-site hospice care facility committed to providing compassionate, palliative care to individuals facing life-limiting illness and delivering bereavement services to people learning to live with grief and loss. With funding from community grants, government bodies, private and corporate donors alongside a dedicated community of highly regarded palliative care specialists and healthcare professionals, staff and volunteers, our 12-bed residence and community care teams serve over 2,000 community members each and every year. www.dlhospice.org
For further information: The Dorothy Ley Hospice will arrange interviews on request. Contact Jennifer McCrindle, Communications Specialist at jmccrindle@dlhospice.org or (647) 526-0829.
Related news and material:
- Ministry of Health News Release: Ontario Connecting More People to Care at Home
- Office of MPP Christine Hogarth News Release: Two New Beds for Etobicoke’s Famed Dorothy Ley Hospice
- Ministry of Health Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
