The Independent

There will be three new hospice beds in rural Lambton County this fall.

But where they’ll be isn’t being revealed yet.

St. Joseph Hospice officials and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey made the announcement Friday via a news release. Hospice officials said the three beds would help the organization us better
meet the growing demand for compassionate end-of-life care in our community.

Officials said the three beds will be “located in the rural county in a dedicated space that includes private suites, a common area, a kitchenette and accessible parking.”

They expected the unit will be opened in the fall or winter of this year after “minimal renovations to meet Ministry of Health standards.”

The announcement was one of several Friday which added 84 hospice beds across the province. There are now 768 hospice beds in Ontario.

St Joseph’s Hospice already operates a 10-bed facility in Sarnia. In 2022-2023, according to the organization’s annual report, 185 residents were admitted to the hospice. The majority were living with cancer. The occupancy of the Sarnia hospice at that time was 69 per cent with the average length of stay being 13 days.

St. Joseph’s, with a budget of about $3.7 million, also runs a palliative care clinic and grief support programs.