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 August 2024
Visitors are an important component of the Hospice experience and are welcome 365 days a year.
Visitors to the residence use the entrance on the left, or north side, of the building. If visiting in the evening or overnight the external doors will be locked, however, if you ring the doorbell, staff will be able to let you in.
We do request that visitors sign our visitors’ book upon entering the residence and sign out when leaving so we know who is in the building in case of emergencies. We may restrict, limit, or shorten visits depending on client or family needs, or in the case of infectious diseases.
We kindly request that visitors help us to maintain a scent-free environment, as residents and staff may be very sensitive to scents. This includes not bringing strong-scented flowers, especially lilies.
We thank you in advance for your understanding. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Care, Ronda Manning at rmanning@hospicewaterloo.ca (519 – 743-4114 x 200) or Judy Nairn, Executive Director, at judy@hospicewaterloo.ca