This past week I had the opportunity to visit one of my very special aunts, Ruth.  I had seen her a few times over this past year and kept in touch by phone.  She has been courageously working at getting cancer out of her body.  When the medical profession told her that it was stage 4 cancer and that there was not much they could do, she decided to go full force into an alternative treatment plan. Auntie Ruth became vegan, incorporating juicing and up to 3 hours of exercise daily.  She also went to a spiritual health retreat, where juicing and exercise was also part of the daily program.  Throughout all this time her loving husband supported and worked to make it possible.

Recently her discomfort has become only treatable through a daily prescription drug.  Ruth and her husband and their children decided to check out hospice care.  They settled on Rosedale Hospice, a community-based, 24-hour residential cancer care centre.

“Formerly a private residence, this three-story home is located in the quiet, residential neighbourhood of Rosedale, in northwest Calgary.  At Rosedale Hospice, the rooms are private, and are fully contained rooms ensuring peace, intimacy and dignity for patient and family. Comfortable, home-like living and sitting rooms, a library, dining room and non-denominational chapel provide patients and visitors with a variety of quiet places to read, talk and reflect; alone or together.”

I was able to fly into the city last week and stay a few days.  I had never been in a hospice before and had no idea what to expect.  I have to say it was way above anything I could have imagined. The place looks like a big home.  Inside there are numerous places to visit, or be alone. Each member of the paid staff and volunteers are amazing.  The food is homemade and made-to-order!  There is a separate kitchen and dining room for families to bring food for themselves and loved ones.  There is also a bedroom that can be rented to visitors from outside the city.  It was a very tranquil place where people are made to feel welcome and very good quality of care is provided for those who are ill.

I just wanted to share with you Rosedale’s mission and vision statements below.  I feel they are reaching their goals.

“Mission: To help families and individuals achieve support, hope and well-being through compassionate end-of-life and bereavement care.

Vision: To be an innovative leader for compassionate, holistic, family-centered end-of-life and bereavement care.

At Hospice Calgary, our multi-disciplinary team of medical, nursing and counselling professionals are committed to helping people with life-threatening illness, deal with impending or sudden death, and rebuild a positive and healthy life.”

They provide a life affirming alternative to hospitalization and an additional choice for those who find themselves dying at home. At Rosedale Hospice, they focus on quality of life, making what time families have left together, as good as possible.”

“They ensure that each patient receives professional, specialized medical and nursing care. Patients are assessed on an on-going basis, with care and pain management plans adapted to respond to the patient’s changing condition. Emotional and spiritual care and support are also available.”

No one ever wants to have think about using a place like this because it means that someone dear to them or even perhaps themselves may be at the end of their life but it is a much better solution then a noisy, chaotic hospital or staying at home with too much pain and suffering.

Check out their website at http://www.hospicecalgary.com.