East central Saskatchewan patients and families facing the difficult journey of end-of-life care now have dedicated rooms for their specific needs.
The Health Foundation, with support from a series of donors, unveiled two new palliative care rooms at the Yorkton Regional Hospital on Sept. 20.
“[These rooms] came about because there’s a need,” said Ross Fisher, Executive Director with the Health Foundation of east central Saskatchewan. “The community strongly said it’s worthwhile.”
Palliative service is typically associated with end-of-life care. It’s designed to provide comfort and support for patients with life-shortening illnesses. It focuses on reducing the stress and pain from such illnesses while boosting the quality of life for both the patients and their families.
The Yorkton hospital offered palliative care in the past, but it lacked dedicated space for such services. Two rooms in the hospital’s west section were closed and renovated to provide palliative care. The new rooms include a small kitchen area, a bathroom, and a mechanism to move immobile patients.
The renovations cost $100,000. Fisher thanked the over 500 people who donated money and time to bring the project to life.
“People supported [the project] from all over,” he said. “It makes me feel good about the community we live in.
“People care.”
