Hospice Society provides update to County PPC
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Joni McNeely, president of the Wheatland and Area Hospice Society, presented to the Wheatland County Public Presentation Committee, Feb. 13, regarding the progress of their ongoing build project.
The facility, which will be developed in partnership with the Wheatland Housing Management Body, aims to see construction in Strathmore, which will provide both a rural hospice and a congregate living space for seniors no longer able to live independently.
“Today was our first of many visits to councils to express to them our progress in the Hospice Society’s build project,” she said. “It is very exciting because we have raised a total of $4.1 million, so we are almost at the point where we are able to pay for our part of the building. The next phase of our fundraising will specifically address furniture, fixtures, and equipment in the hospice.”
The objective of the Feb. 13 presentation before the committee was to inform council of the Hospice Society’s progress on their capital build, as well as to address the anticipated operating costs of the facility.
McNeely explained the Hospice Society is looking towards Alberta Health and their new restructuring into continuing care to aid in their operations, as well as to create other avenues for financing staffing costs.
Anticipated costs to see the facility constructed are approximately $53 million. Of this, 12 per cent will be paid for as capital down by the Hospice Society over 50 years. The remainder of the budget will be provided upfront through provincial and federal loans and grants.
“In the past, there have been four or five different models of operational funding for different hospices across the province, so rather than feeling sorry for ourselves, we are very excited because there are so many choices available,” said McNeely. “I will be presenting to all the town councils, as well as all the Lions Clubs, and then finally, once the Snowbirds come back, we are hoping to present to the communities to let them know where we are in our progress.”
McNeely added the Hospice Society is precisely on target as far as where they intended to be regarding financing and project development at this time.
At this stage, the Hospice Society is waiting only on the resolution of grant application funding, which, following a delay, should be released within the next month. That will catapult the project to its final phase of mortgage application funding through the Canadian Housing Mortgage Corporation.
McNeely did not specify when exactly the Hospice Society aims to have shovels in the ground, though once started, the build is anticipated to take place over 20 to 24 months.