With the future of Hospice Muskoka’s Port Carling facility potentially hanging in the balance, a petition has been created to help secure funding.
Hospice Muskoka has recently been attending local municipal councils in an effort to persuade them to petition the provincial government to secure base funding.
Speaking in front of the Township of Muskoka Lakes council recently, Donna Kearney, executive director of Hospice Muskoka (which operates Andy’s House), said the organization is facing a financial crisis.
“We have a funding agreement set to expire in March 2024. If those agreements are not renewed Hospice Muskoka risks closing,” said Kearney.
Local municipalities have agreed to push the province for more money, and now area residents are doing the same.
Emily Wood recently created an online petition called: “Secure Government Funding for Hospice Muskoka (Andy’s House)”, which can be found here.
The petition reads:
“My family and I have personally experienced the compassionate care provided by Hospice Muskoka, specifically Andy’s House. This facility has been a beacon of hope and support for those in our community facing end-of-life situations. However, this crucial service is at risk due to insufficient funding.
In Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, the need for end-of-life care is growing. As our population ages, more families will find themselves in need of the services offered by Andy’s House. Yet without adequate government funding, these essential services may not be available to those who need them most.
According to Statistics Canada (2016), over 16% of the population in Ontario are aged 65 or older – a figure that is expected to double over the next two decades. This demographic shift underscores the urgent necessity for well-funded hospice facilities like Andy’s House.
We call upon our local and national government representatives to recognize this pressing issue and allocate necessary funding towards Hospice Muskoka (Andy’s House). By doing so, we can ensure that every individual facing end-of-life circumstances receives dignified care within their own community.
Please sign this petition today and help secure a future where no one in Muskoka has to face end-of-life alone or without proper care.”
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
Join the discussion: