About Hospice Muskoka

Hospice Muskoka has provided palliative and end-of-life support to residents of South and West Muskoka since 1995 through our outstanding volunteer programs. We have earned the trust of our community and have built a reputation of excellence for service delivery. Over our extensive history, we have formed partnerships with community organizations and local government.

 

The Palliative Approach to Care is a method of providing care that honours the wishes of the person experiencing a life-limiting diagnosis. Hospice staff and volunteers walk beside a person and their loved ones throughout their journey. From the time of diagnosis, staying with them through the palliation period, end-of-life and the grief and bereavement process.

Hospice Muskoka is grateful to the Potts Family Memorial Foundation for partnering with us to construct our palliative care home, called Andy’s House, which opened in October 2020. Andy’s House is available to all residents of Muskoka Lakes, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Georgian Bay Townships, including Wahta First Nation and Moose Deer Point First Nation and, by extension their families. 

 

Andy’s House is staffed with specialized palliative nurses and Personal Support Workers (PSWs) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to optimize quality of life and dignity to the very last breath. We currently have 8 palliative care rooms, with plans to open a paediatric palliative care room by the end of Summer 2022.

Andy’s House is the first hospice in Ontario to have a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the role of Most Responsible Provider/Prescriber (MRPP). We have developed a unique model whereby the NP works in partnership with your family doctor or nurse practitioner by sharing of information to provide optimal care during your stay at Andy’s House. The NP is accredited in palliative care and has the expertise required to direct your care through advanced pain and symptom management approaches, specialized assessments and in the on-going planning for medical interventions that may be chosen. Working in partnership with local health care organizations makes transitions through the healthcare system seamless.

Hospice Muskoka also has a Registered Social Worker (RSW) specialized in complex Grief and Bereavement Counselling. The SW works in conjunction with other local healthcare organizations to provide wrap around care for the person who is palliating and their loved ones.