Huron Shores Hospice in Tiverton has received federal money for death and dying education and bereavement programs.
The facility has received a $25,000 grant from Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Co-chair of the Hospice Board of Directors Cheryl Cottrill says the idea is to get seniors involved in making a difference in the lives of others and their communities.
Cottrill says they will be offering, “Grief support in the municipalities of Huron Kinloss, Kincardine and Saugeen Shores for those that are dealing with bereavement.”
However, she says they also want people to start talking about death and dying and end-of-life planning.
Cottrill says they want to “normalize” death with what they call “Death Cafe's” where people come out and simply talk about any aspect of death and dying, and from those conversations they'll bring in experts to offer more information.
She says, “We plan for every other life event, we don't plan for our death yet we expect to have a good one,”
Huron Bruce MP Ben Lobb was on hand to present the money, calling the program a unique one that will benefit residents in the region.
The special ceremony was held at Tiverton Park Manor, home of the Huron Shores Hospice.
Huron Shores Hospice is a charitable not-for-profit, volunteer-led organization, with 100% of the operating costs being community-funded for the one-bed residential hospice, providing quality end-of-life care, at no cost, to residents of Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss, Saugeen Shores and surrounding areas.
More information on the hospice can be found at www.huronshoreshospice.ca
