This story is made possible through the support of Housser's Paint and Wallpaper as part of OrilliaMatters' Community Leaders Program
Hospice Orillia is a registered charity, a program of the North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network, that has been operating since 1989.
But what exactly does Hospice Orillia offer? How is it different from Mariposa House Hospice?
Amanda Tevelde Communications, Fundraising and Community Relations Specialist for Hospice Orillia, explained, “Hospice Orillia supports people who are coping with advanced illness, death, and bereavement, in their own homes. We have tailored programs to support those who are ill, their families, and their caregivers. All this support is free of charge, thanks to our donors and well-trained volunteers.”
Some of the programs that Hospice Orillia offers include respite care, bereavement support for all ages, equine therapy, and the Footprints program, among others, according to Tevelde.
“Volunteers will come to the home and just stay with the ill person, play cards, do a puzzle, have a cup of tea,” said Tevelde. “This not only gives the caregiver a break, but gives the ill person a chance to interact with someone else, a chance to have a conversation that is not just about their illness, or sadness. This time with someone else offers a time of normality in a difficult situation.”
The Footprints program is a legacy activity wherein a volunteer will give someone with progressive life-limiting illnesses a space to reflect on special moments, memories, and events that have had an impact on their lives.
“Legacy activities can be a book, a scrapbook, letters or cards, which can also act as gifts to loved ones,” explained Tevelde. “Again, this is all free and the legacy project will be given to the family to have as a memento.”
The equine therapy program is funded by the Kiwanis Club of Orillia and gives bereaved youth an opportunity to be in a safe space with the horses, which helps them to gain confidence as well.
Hospice Orillia has office and meeting space at the Common Roof in Orillia, but programs and volunteers meet clients wherever they are most comfortable. “It can be at their home, the space they are currently living, a coffee shop, here at the Common Roof, or even at Mariposa House Hospice,” explained Tevelde. “Wherever it makes sense, and works for them.”
Hospice Orillia and Mariposa House Hospice work together to vet and train volunteers, and Hospice Orillia does programming at Mariposa House Hospice. “Hospice Orillia is a community-based hospice, that offers free support to anyone facing that diagnosis of life-limiting illness, anyone needing bereavement support,” said Tevelde.
She added, “I really want to get word out to the community, that we are here for you from day one, to support all of you in your bereavement journey, and all of our help is absolutely free. No one needs to go through this journey alone.”
To find out more about Hospice Orillia, go to the website, call 705-325-0505, or drop in to the office at Orillia Common Roof 169 Front Street South, Orillia, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
