The Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-operative is donating $100,000 to support whole-person care at Cowichan Hospice House. Opening in late 2020, this new facility is a compassionate, person-centered, end-of-life care centre available to Cowichan Valley residents.
“We are excited to be able to donate to Cowichan Hospice, to show our support for such important care for patients, family and friends during their time of need,” said Lorne Scheffer, chair of the Lake Cowichan Community Forest Co-operative. “Additionally, the hospice also helps to free up acute care beds in the Cowichan District Hospital.”
In addition to the hospice care programs provided, facilities at Cowichan Hospice House include 10 patient rooms, family areas, a children’s play area, a kitchen, a sacred space, a quiet room, a spa room, a nursing station, a garden area and a secure medication room. The secure medication room will be named to recognize the gift from the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-operative. This room includes a computerized dispensary to ensure the safe storage and delivery of powerful medications to manage patients’ symptoms and a medication safe with a timer, enabling nurses to dispense medications securely.
The Community Forest Co-operative’s generous contribution will support whole-person care for patients in Cowichan Hospice House and for people in our community, including care for caregivers and those grieving the death of a loved one.
“We are delighted to have this level of support from the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-operative,” said Jamie Goodman, president of Cowichan Hospice. “This incredible gift will help ensure that families across our region facing serious illness, caregiving and bereavement will have the care that we all deserve, now and for the future.”
In operation since 1995, the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-operative has supported a wide variety of projects and initiatives in the local area. Since 2018, the Co-operative, joined in partnership with the Pacheedaht First Nation at Port Renfrew, and holds the Qala:yit Community Forest Agreement. Sustainable forest management on the community forest now provides funding for use in both communities. Funds from the Qala:yit Community forest has enabled this donation to Cowichan Hospice House.