Hospice ends financial year in the black

Thanks to a jump in government funding and fundraising dollars, Maison Vale Hospice ended the 2011-2012 financial year $56,825 in the black.

This is an improvement over the 2010-2011 financial year, when the hospice ended the year with a $55,040 shortfall. The hospice's financial statements were shared at the organization's annual general meeting Oct. 11.

“It's positive,” hospice executive director Leo Therrien told Northern Life. “You always want to see it in the black, not in the red.”

He said the main difference between the two financial years is a decision by the provincial government to provide 100-per-cent funding for nursing care at hospices.

This funding, which flows through the North East Community Care Access Centre, jumped from $636,736 in 2010-2011 to $966,987 in 2011-2012.

The hospice also received $17,410 from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through an incentive program to hire new grads.

Therrien said the program paid for six months of wages for a registered practical nurse, who is now a permanent hospice staff member.

The hospice managed to fundraise $578,568 in 2011-2012, up from the $547,119 it raised in 2010-2011.

The financial statements don't take into account fundraising events which have occurred since the current financial year began.

This year's Hike for Hospice and Wheels for Hospice both raised more money than they did last year. Along with Warmhearts Palliative Caregivers, the hospice also hosted a new fundraising event this year – Butterflies and Memories.
 

The community's always been generous.

Leo Therrien,
executive director of the Maison Vale Hospice

“It means that every year we're able to continue raising the needed funds for the hospice,” Therrien said. “The community's always been generous. We're thankful for that support in Sudbury.”

Part of the reason for the jump in fundraising dollars is the fact that the hospice is serving more families, who in turn want to raise money for the organization.

“Last year, 170 families used our services,” Therrien said.

“This year, we're going on an average for 200. That's double from two years ago. People tend to stay longer at home and use hospice as a back-up service. The longer they stay home, the less time they spend at the hospice.”

There is a potential challenge on the horizon, though.

For the past two years, Health Sciences North has provided the hospice with $84,996 in funding which is used to hire a worker who assesses patients in their homes or at the hospital, and determines if and when they should come to the hospice.

Therrien said the hospice has submitted a proposal to the North East Local Health Integration Network to receive replacement funding because this assessment services is “an essential service for the hospice.”

Beyond the financial statements, hospice board members elected Leo Lefebvre as their new chair at the meeting. He replaces outgoing chair Jean Cousineau.

Board members also welcomed two new members to the table — Northern Life publisher Abbas Homayed and Lise Poratto-Mason, who will both serve two-year terms. Gerry Lougheed Jr.'s term on the board was renewed for another year.

Cousineau and Jacqulyn Moffat are both departing as board members, as their terms have expired.