The Terrace Hospice Society became a registered society on August 13, 1992. It began as a group who shared concerns regarding support services for the terminally ill and their families.
The group of community members was composed of local physicians, hospital staff nurses, the Home Support Program, the Seniors Centre, the Mental Health Centre Program, Social Worker Services, Pastoral Services, the Continuing Care Division and other interested community members.
Our first public information meeting was September 29, 1992, with the trend to provide “Closer to Home” care, and the reduction in hospital beds, there are increasing numbers of terminally ill people choosing to stay at home and be cared for by family and friends.
In 2024, the Terrace Hospice Society was renamed the Terrace Regional Hospice Network in an effort to better support smaller outlying communities in the region. TRHN provides trained volunteers who can support clients, their families and other caregivers who are coping with the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of terminal illness. Our services are available to those living in the Terrace and surrounding areas and we work with other hospice programs to provide volunteer training and support where needed.
Terrace Regional Hospice Network is constantly striving to grow and to create new projects favourable to the community. Our latest endeavor aims to present another option for end of life care. It is the right of all individuals to die a dignified death and for most that means in comfort and surrounded by loved ones at home. Unfortunately, many terminal patients are still dying in hospitals with limited visitation schedules, less than adequate comfort, and often unwanted or unneeded treatments. TRHN is hoping to change this for members of our region by building a Hospice House.
A Hospice House is a facility that allows palliative individuals to face death in a warm, dignified atmosphere feeling safe, comfortable and cared for. Hospice Houses contain guest rooms with all the modern comforts of home. A Hospice House, unlike a hospital, is laid out in a way that allows family members to stay in the company of their loved one all hours of the day or night. There are no restrictions on visitation, there are no limits on hours and there are even common rooms for relatives and friends to gather, playrooms for children, and bedrooms where families can sleep.
Hospice Houses also offer support, advice and information to the families. It is common to find scheduled activities hosted by professionals and societies that include workshops, lectures, fundraising events and support groups. Doctors and nurses are available around the clock and are dedicated to providing quality care and carrying out the final wishes of the patient.
Are you interested in making this dream a reality? Click the button below to donate or contact TRHN to get involved.
Although not tied directly to our organization, the Eliza's Village project is a proposed resource that would be incredibly valuable to our community.
"This project will be a world-class green community using the most up-to-date technology to reduce the carbon footprint while at the same time creating economic value for the local forest industry. The unique business model of Social Enterprise will be used to develop and operate the project. It will be financially self-sustaining but community social capital will be the principle driver, not financial profits.
MFHF will provide a wide variety of housing options from entry-level young singles to young families to empty nesters to seniors. Low income housing options will be incorporated into the community design.
The design will bring in the local physical beauty of Thornhill to create open spaces and pathways and take advantage of the stunning views of the community. At the same time, it will incorporate local culture, traditional healing methods and reintroduce all aspects of art into the community setting. This will be accomplished by continued consultation with First Nations in the surrounding area before, during and after completion of project."(voiceofthornhill.ca)
For more information, visit Voice of Thornhill