Upgraded palliative care suite opened at Mount Forest hospital

MOUNT FOREST – An upgraded palliative care suite is now officially open at Louise Marshall Hospital.

On July 3, hospital officials announced the completion of the project, which was started in 2019 but was delayed due to the redevelopment and expansion of the hospital and to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new palliative care suite is comprised of two rooms: a patient room and an adjoining family room.

The renovation was jump-started in 2018 when late Mount Forest resident Tony Daciuk donated $25,000 to the Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation to be used toward palliative care suite upgrades.

The project has since received gifts from other donors and families.

“We are grateful to Tony Daciuk, the other hospital donors and foundation who supported the palliative room refresh,” stated hospital president and CEO Angela Stanley in a press release.

“The updated suite provides a more comfortable space, with a home-like feel for families and patients to spend quality time together.”

Hospital officials say the suite has been re-opened with “all-new paint, flooring and furnishings” as well as “wall-mounted televisions, and wall-to-wall windows looking out onto treed greenspace.

“Above the palliative care bed is a therapeutic light instalment featuring a gentle and serene view of blue skies, clouds and treetops.”

Hospital foundation executive director Amy Van Huss stated the foundation is “so happy to honour Tony’s memory with the re-opening of the palliative care suite.

“It is thanks to his generous donation, and those that followed, that we were able to fund this comforting space for both patients and families during a difficult time.”