A hospice residence is a place of comfort and care for those who are at the end of their life. It is a place where families can be family and where everyone is meant to feel at home.
Hospice Waterloo Region is proud to offer hospice residence services in our new Cook Family Residence. The hospice residence is a part of the new Gies Family Centre, where we also offer programs for those in the community who require support.
Our 11-bed hospice residence provides palliative care for those at end of life and support for their families. The residence interdisciplinary team consists of specially trained palliative nurses, personal support workers, social workers, spiritual care providers, kitchen and housekeeping aides along with many different volunteer supports.
The space has been designed for the comfort of the resident and their family and, in addition to private individual rooms with opportunity for family to stay over, it includes individual private outdoor courtyards, many quiet places for reflection, special family gathering places and common outdoor space for contemplation.
Our philosophy of care is grounded in the words of Dame Cicely Saunders: “You matter because you are you – and you matter right to the end of your life”. We recognize that when cure is not possible, providing care and comfort focused on quality of life is the priority.
Accessing Our Residence Services
Admission to our hospice residence is made through your health care provider. Individuals who come to our residence, have:
- a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness
- a prognosis of less than 3 months
- a care approach plan that is palliative not curative
- an address that demonstrates they reside in or have relatives living in the Waterloo-Wellington region
- a valid OHIP card
- an understanding that no extensive diagnostics or treatments are offered other than those required for pain and symptom management and comfort measures
- a Residential Referral Form completed by a family physician, LHIN case manager, home care nurse, discharge planner in hospital, or palliative care specialist
Admission is prioritized by need. For more information, you can call our residence at 226-666-3547 for further information.
Visiting Policy
Updated July 2023
Visitors are an important component of the Hospice experience. Please review this information sheet to understand how to ensure that everyone’s visit is meaningful.
Each resident room has an outdoor pergola area where the resident’s bed can be taken in good weather. Visitor limits apply to outdoor areas as well.
Additional visitors are allowed in the building when the care team identifies the resident is entering their last 24 hours. The maximum of 4 visitors in the room at a time still applies.
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Care, Laura Latyn at llatyn@hospicewaterloo.ca (519-743-4114 x 200) or Judy Nairn, Executive Director, at judy@hospicewaterloo.ca