April 2025
The Ontario government is connecting more people in Essex County and Windsor to comfortable and dignified end-of-life care, close to their community and loved ones by adding 1 new hospice bed at Hospice of Windsor & Essex County. This is part of an expansion of 84 new adult hospice beds across the province, bringing the total number of publicly funded hospice beds in Ontario to 768.
“Expanding access to hospice care in Essex County is a compassionate step forward in providing our residents with the care and comfort they deserve during the most difficult moments of their lives,” said MPP, Trevor Jones for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “The addition of this hospice bed ensures that more families can remain close to their loved ones in their final days, surrounded by support and dignity. This investment reflects our commitment to improving end-of-life care across Ontario.”
This expansion is part of the province’s up to $19.75 million capital investment to add 84 new adult hospice beds across the province, bringing the total number of publicly funded hospice beds in Ontario to 768. When these 84 new beds are open, the province will provide an additional up to $16.03 million per year to support the operation of these beds.
“Our government is ensuring people and their families have access to the comprehensive care they need in their community, close to their loved ones, at every stage of life,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in the expansion of end-of-life care in communities across the province, we are taking another step to connect Ontarians to compassionate and specialized care closer to home.”
Once opened, these new adult hospice beds will bring the total number of beds at Hospice of Windsor & Essex County to 12 patient beds.
As a next step, the ministry is working with The Hospice of Windsor & Essex County to bring the new bed into operation.
“We are incredibly grateful for this funding and for the continued support of our community. The people of Leamington and Windsor-Essex built this Hospice through their dedication, their generosity, their volunteerism, and their belief in the value of palliative care,” said Katharen Bortolin, Executive Director of The Hospice. “This new bed is a testament to that ongoing commitment, and we are excited to continue our work in supporting even more families with the specialized, memorable care they need at a critical time in their lives.”
“The amazing team at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County are dedicated to providing quality care and support to patients and families in our community during a vulnerable time,” said Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh. “The Ontario government is proud to support their great work at Hospice with additional funding in support of compassionate and specialized palliative care services.”
Each year, during the Hospice Dove Pin Campaign, families come together to honour loved ones who have passed, while supporting the compassionate care that...
They may have come together at the worst time of their lives – these women have lost their spouses, their life partners. But in...
Roger, age 84, lay in his bed, beaming proudly at his fiancée, Dot, age 91. Dot wore a sparkly tiara and carried a bouquet...
