Abbotsford Hospice Society
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Serving the Community since 1986
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Supporting the process of life...
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Join Our Team
Current openings:
Office and Facility Coordinator

  Bimonthly Newsletter  

April 2010  |  June 2010

  Our Approach  

Through strong governance, responsible and passionate stewardship, and integrity systems, AHS provides a solid framework in which our non profit charitable organization operates. Delivering on our commitment to help people who are dying and to support families means maintaining a culture of acceptance, compassion, respect and curiosity. We honour all religions, cultural values and spiritual belief systems and adhere to a strict code of confidentiality. Life should be lived fully until death and we have been supporting the people of Abbotsford in their process of life since 1986.

AHS provides services free of charge and reaches thousands of people annually. It touches not just the adults who participate in the programs but also their children, spouses, siblings, friends, colleagues and neighbours, plus all the families, caregivers, donors and volunteers who participate as an audience during community outreach events, fundraisers and education sessions.

In its first 24 years, AHS has grown from a dream of a few community leaders to a highly respected community organization. The story of AHS is a story of inspiration, determination, hard work, vision, community, generosity, professionalism and above all life.

  Funding Options ...  

Program Funding
Several Programs require ongoing support from the community.

Capital Funding
In planning for the accommodation of new and the expansion of existing programs, renovations and equipment are necessary.

Learn how you can donate now to support Hospice Services in your community: « click here »

Help Us Light the Way

News Release, 10 March 2010 - The Abbotsford Hospice Society announces that the kick off to its Capital Campaign to build a facility to house its Resource and Support Center and ultimately a residential hospice for persons age 19 and older was enormously successful. The new AHS facility will form part of an innovative partnership between the Abbotsford Hospice Society, Canuck Place Children's Hospice and Matthew's House children's respite centre to create a one of a kind Campus of Care in Abbotsford.

The Capital Campaign, "Help Us Light the Way", was formally launched at the Black and White Ball, the Abbotsford Hospice's annual fund raising event in February. Through many generous donors $56,000 was raised and marks a significant beginning to this 3 year campaign. [...]   Read More

Leaders in Bereavement and Palliative Support Services

Overview

For over 24 years, Abbotsford Hospice Society (AHS) has helped people who are dying and provided support services free of charge to families. In addition to those who are living with a terminal or life-threatening illness, AHS provides programs to comfort children, teens and adults on their very personal journey of grief and loss. Services offered by specially trained volunteers include one-to-one companioning, support groups, family counselling, expressive therapies, music and play for bereaved children and equine facilitated grief support for teens. Additionally, AHS offers a comprehensive lending library designed to support patients and families, along with public education, outreach and community referrals.

Areas of service include:

  • One to one companionship or counseling (a variety of settings including our centre, in hospital, private homes and extended care facilities);
  • Support groups (at our centre or at your organization);
  • Reading and reference materials (quiet time in the library or borrow from our resource selection);
  • Public education and professional development (at our centre or at your organization); and
  • Community referrals (if we can’t help, we will try to find someone who can).

Thanks to generous community donors AHS bought and remodelled the house at 33134 Marshall Road in 1999, creating a Resource and Support Centre. In 2003 AHS retired the mortgage on the Marshall Road property thanks to the Rotary Club of Abbotsford.

With a view to expanding our services in the future AHS purchased the property on Westbury Avenue behind its existing centre. Thanks to Abbotsford resident the late Ella Lister we have retired this mortgage as well. Ella’s dream was to see advanced and sophisticated at-home palliative and bereavement care and a hospice residence in Abbotsford where palliative patients could receive the comprehensive support they need.

Currently the hospice residence (medical facility) where patients can spend their final days is located minutes away in the neighbouring city of Mission BC. Abbotsford palliative patients have the option to attend at Christine Morrison Hospice as this beautiful facility serves both the Abbotsford and Mission (see video, left column).

Volunteers and staff from both Mission Hospice Society and the Abbotsford Hospice society support families from their respective communities who are anticipating the death of a loved one or grieving a loss.

As leaders in bereavement and palliative support services the Abbotsford Hospice Society is building upon the diverse volunteer base that forms the foundation of our community support system. Abbotsford Hospice Society volunteers come from various backgrounds and cultures. Our companion volunteers, facilitators, trainers, staff. counsellors and educators bring unique and invaluable perspective to our work.

Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre

One of the aspects of our one-to-one companionship program involves hospital visiting and in consultation with the Fraser Health Hospice Palliative Care Team the Abbotsford Hospice Society (AHS) volunteers and staff provide ongoing emotional, spiritual and practical support to patients and families at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre (ARHCC). Our AHS Palliative Services Manager attends medical rounds at the Tertiary Palliative Care Unit and at the request of Fraser Health assigns volunteers to companion patients and family members through a most critical and personal time. AHS also offers individual and family counseling as needed and provides group support for those wishing to engage in peer support. Additionally, if it becomes necessary for a palliative patient to visit the ARH Emergency Room an AHS staff person or volunteer will attend and provide support to families upon request from the patient or family member.


Province of British Columbia The Abbotsford Hospice Society acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
Copyright © 2003-2010 Abbotsford Hospice Society. All Rights Reserved. Site design and development ~ Richard Dagan
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