Deep River and District Health (DRDH) is proud to announce the addition of hospice care to our health campus, a transformative step that marks the introduction of a new and vital sector of care for our community. With the addition a dedicated hospice – one of only a few facilities in the Ottawa Valley – DRDH will expand our existing services and supports to provide focused, compassionate end-of-life support for individuals and families in the region.
“Our campus of care is growing to meet the evolving needs of our community, not only today, but well into the future,” said Janna Hotson, President and CEO of DRDH. “Providing compassionate, person-centered care at the end of life is something our teams already do exceptionally well. The addition of hospice care allows us to expand this important work further, offering that same high-quality care in a dedicated setting designed specifically for comfort and support. This is an important and meaningful step forward for our campus and our community – bringing end-of-life care closer to home, so individuals and families no longer need to travel far to access the support they deserve.”
The announcement of new hospice beds at DRDH is part of the Ontario government’s Your Health plan, which includes an investment of up to $19.75 million to add 84 new adult hospice beds across the province by 2027. Upon opening, DRDH’s hospice will offer a home-like environment for individuals in their final days, while also easing pressure on hospitals and offering support for families during one of life’s most difficult journeys.
As part of the ongoing evolution of our campus, the hospice will be developed within the space currently occupied by the Four Seasons Lodge Long-Term Care Home. In 2027, Four Seasons Lodge residents will move into our new 96-bed long-term care home currently under construction. At that time, the vacated space will be repurposed to create a dedicated hospice residence designed with dignity and comfort in mind.
The need for local hospice care was clearly identified through a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment and Population Health Analysis recently undertaken by DRDH. These initiatives gathered insight from patients, families, DRDH team members, health care providers, and community partners, highlighting end-of-life care as a top priority for our region.
“We listened carefully to what our community shared with us,” said David Cox, Chair of the Board of Directors at DRDH. “Their message was clear – we need more access to high-quality, local end-of-life care. We are incredibly grateful for the efforts of our leadership team in advocating for our community, and to the Government of Ontario for recognizing this critical need.”
Hospice care represents a new chapter for DRDH, one that is rooted in compassion, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves to be cared for like a loved one. The new hospice will become a cornerstone of DRDH’s integrated, person-centered approach to care, ensuring that people in our community are supported through all stages of life.
(Richard Evans)