A Satellite Hospice Project has been put on hold by the Board of Director of the Residential Hospice Grey Bruce (RHGB) amid uncertainty from the Covid pandemic.
The project began in 2019 and would have seen the creation of a second residential hospice location in Brockton, which would allow RHGB to provide care to an estimated 70-80 residents.
Board Chair Paul Rowcliffe states in a release, the last year of the pandemic had brought unforeseen and formidable challenges, “priorities have had to change to meet the realities of the pandemic, and the same is true for RHGB.”
Rowcliffe notes the plan to develop the satellite residential hospice in Brockton has not died, but decided to take a “cautious pause” until the situation eases up and the economy stabilizes.
According to Rowcliffe, fundraising has become a difficult process and obtaining a cost estimate for building, “has been hindered as construction costs have been impacted by the pandemic.”
With this in mind, RHGB has made the decision to suspend the work of the fundraising and building committees for up to 12 months.
Rowcliffe adds, “this is an unhappy decision for us and we are aware of the desire for a residential hospice in the community of Brockton, but it is unrealistic to carry on at this time.”
All of the donations collected for the project until now will be held on to in a segregated account until the project resumes.
Despite the pandemic restriction, the Chapman House in Owen Sound has persisted in serving 62 residents and their families from Durham, Hanover, Walkerton, and the surrounding areas in 2020 and 2021.