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When Kathleen Steffler’s husband was nearing the end of his life a decade ago after a battle with cancer, she knew hospice care was a must-have. But the closest spot available was an hour and a half away from their Strathroy, Ont., home.
“We had to leave our community,” she said.
Their two-storey home was not set up for homecare, and the nearest hospices was full. So it meant extra driving back-and-forth to Lisaard House in Cambridge for their friends and family, and arrangements for extra accommodations during an already challenging time.
“It was just a lot of logistical things,” Steffler said. “Our community was a really big support system for us during Rick’s treatment and final days, but they weren’t able to be there on a day-to-day basis.”
Family of Rick Steffler surround him during his hospice stay at Lisaard House in Cambridge. (Submitted by Kathleen Steffler)
Now, Steffler is on the board of directors for the Strathroy Hospice, a team working to bring a facility to their community west of London in Strathroy-Caradoc, a population of 32,000.
“It’s been my family’s goal since losing Rick to bring hospice to our community,” she said. “The difference [hospice] made for my husband in his final days and for myself and my children, I just can’t put into words.”
‘Beautiful’ land donated for build
The group has rallied financial support from across the area, and even received a “beautiful” donation of land to build it on at 7013 Walkers Dr.
The problem is that the land is zoned for agricultural use, and having it rezoned to instituitional so they can build on it is a slow process. Steffler said they’re currently waiting on the permit and land rezoning, and have fundraised $1.4 million of $5 million needed to build it.
Tyler Damen, chair of the board for Strathroy Hospice and a local chiropractor, said bringing the hospice to the area is “filling a major healthcare gap.”
Tyler Damen [left] is the chair of Hospice Strathroy and a chiropractor with Damen Optimal Health Team. Here he collects a $5,000 donation from the Glencoe Masonic Lodge for the Strathroy Hospice. (Strathroy Hospice/Facebook)
“The bureaucracy and going through that process is painstakingly long,” Damen said.
The need is personal for him. When he saw his father-in-law’s “miserable” experience in a crowded hospital during his last days, he rented a home suitable to bring in homecare, but knows that option isn’t available for everyone.
The goal of hospice care is to make the end of life process peaceful, and give the patient dignity and control, he said. The focus is about pain control, allowing families to gather in a peaceful setting outside of a hospital facility, and provide grief counselling.
“It’s life changing for the family members,” he said. It can bring light and warmth and comfort in the hardest and darkest times in their life. “The difference that has is immeasurable.”
If everything goes according to schedule it could take at least two years to open, Damen said.
Currently, those in Strathroy looking for end-of-life care in hospice need to find a spot in London, Exeter, Sarnia or St. Thomas.
Update to rezoning
A view of the 3.5 hectares of donated land at 7013 Walkers Dr. in Strathroy where the hospice could be built, if rezoning is approved. (Submitted by Kathleen Steffler)
Strathroy-Caradoc council recently had a public meeting to consider amending the zoning for the lot at 7013 Walkers Dr., said Rob Lilbourne, the interim CAO of the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, in a statement.
The proposal would add a special policy to allow institutional use for 3.5 hectares of land so the hospice can be built. Council directed staff to return with an informational report about the project.
“The Municipality recognizes the importance of hospice care and supports the establishment of a hospice in Strathroy-Caradoc,” Lilbourne said.
In 2024, the province announced nearly $20 million to build 84 new hospice beds across the province, and 12 pediatric hospice beds.
“We’re really hoping that we can get around those roadblocks and make it work,” she said. “It’s going to take a little bit of maneuvering and maybe more time than we had originally anticipated, but that’s still our hope.”