Hospice thanks Forest Co-op for generous gift
On behalf of Cowichan Valley Hospice Society, I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-operative for their generous gift of $100,000 to Cowichan Hospice House. This incredible donation will ensure that families and individuals throughout our region — both now and in the future — facing serious illness and bereavement will have access to all of Cowichan Hospice’s programs, support systems and compassionate care.
With seven private rooms and three available for the future, Cowichan Hospice House is a person-centered, end-of-life care centre available to Cowichan Valley residents. As a lasting acknowledgement of the Co-op’s generous gift, the secure medication room at the facility has been formally named the “Lake Cowichan Community Forest” room. This room includes a computerized dispensary to ensure the safe storage and delivery of medications to help manage patients’ symptoms, as well as a medication safe with a timer that enables nurses to securely dispense medications.
Since opening last year, Cowichan Hospice House has already made a significant impact in our community. Darlene shared that she noticed a transformative change when her late sister Kathryn left the hospital and came to our facility for her final days. “When Kathryn came to the house, she seemed to relax, to actually sleep, and to be at peace,” Darlene told us. “I think it’s our ultimate responsibility to provide a dying human with the exact grace that is offered through Cowichan Hospice. For the family members and friends who are saying goodbye to someone they love, it’s beyond comforting to see them in a place that has been so perfectly constructed, staffed and managed. This place is an extraordinary accomplishment.”
It’s my honour to thank the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-operative for helping secure compassionate end-of-life care for so many others like Kathryn.
Gretchen Hartley
Executive director
Cowichan Valley Hospice Society