Rotary Meeting Notes- Wed July 26 2023
Visitors:
Sonia Dennis from Family and Childrens Services- Karen Spencer’s Guest
Keith Augustine- visiting from Rotary Club of Hamilton
Announcements:
-Karen: pins for sale $5
-5 Club Board Meeting: everyone is facing membership challenges, new discussion about starting an international fund between the clubs
-New member announcement: Gerry Menez from Cambridge club transferring over, starting Aug 1
-Upcoming offsite Aug 9, SDG Idea Factory
-Grant for car seats for new family was given at a value of $5,000. Looking for a connection for a new avenue to obtain car seats at a reasonable price.
-Backpack campaign will be coming back this year. Looking for support from the club.
50/50 Draw: $113.00
Graham Gardiner- loser
Bill Green- loser
Karen Spencer- loser
Speaker:
Diane Murray speaking to us about Keaton's House Pediatric Hospice
- Raise awareness of the new facility and highlight the need for a children’s hospice
- Hamilton is currently the only area that does not have a children’s hospice option for families
- Land has been approved in Hamilton for this facility, breaking ground in the winter of 23/24
- Facility must be within 15 min of the hospital and be 2.5-3 acres
- Place for children to die with dignity
- 500 children at any given time need hospice in our catchment
- Only 5-10$ of kids are in hospice for end of life services
- Most are there for respite and symptom management
- Adult hospices last about 3 months for patients, Children will live around 7-10 years with a life-threatening illness. Children will come in and out of hospital/hospice throughout their life.
- Higher quality of life in a hospice for children vs a hospital setting
- Care planning is key for parents
- New facility will have 10 beds, 2 of which are family suites
- Partnerships: McMasters Childrens Hospital and Kemp Hospice for seamless end to end care.
- Exploring synergies is key between the partners
- Capital campaign- 25M, half way there for funding
- Small amount from the government 2.5M but 50% of operating costs
- Unique part: wrap around care/continuum of care
- How can we help and stay informed: talk to people about this facility and raise awareness.
Questions:
Simon- how long do you anticipate a child be in the hospice themselves?
Answer: we don’t know, ranges depending on need of care
Michelle- is there a cost?
Answer: No cost to the families at all
Bill- Why name it a hospice if such a small portion is end of life care?
Answer: possibly legal reasons for funding from the government.
Maria- how did you decide on 10 beds
Answer: Adult hospice is 10 beds, makes sense with the footprint. Building larger than they need so if they need to add more. Only so much money to go around.
Maria- Would the cost of care be equal for a child to be in respite vs end of life
Answer: Cost would be equal
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