A hospice residence is a facility that offers meaningful end-of-life care – at no cost to residents or their family members – in a tranquil, home-like setting that offers an alternative to end of life care in a hospital or at home. With a focus on living – not dying – hospice residence care empowers individuals to choose how they navigate their final journey while helping their families cope with and prepare for their last stages of life. An interdisciplinary team of health-care professionals and friendly, trained volunteers provide assistance with pain and symptom management and offer comfort measures in a calm and nurturing environment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A resident’s physician remains involved in all aspects of hospice care. 

• Assistance with comfort measures and pain and symptom management.
• Private room, large enough for family and/or visitors to stay overnight
• Unrestricted visiting hours.
• Free parking.
• Ability to live freely (e.g. flexible meals based on each resident’s choice, pets welcome, bathe/shower at leisure, go outside as desired, etc.)
• Access to a wide range of non-medical service and program options including emotional and spiritual support, arts and music and holistic healing practices.
• An approach to end of life care that focuses on comfort, care and compassion.

Hospice residence offers meaningful care at no cost to residents or their family members.

Governments around the world are recognizing the value of providing quality end-of-life care as part of the continuum of health-care services. In Ontario, hospice care is funded in part by the Ministry of Health. The remaining costs needed to operate a hospice residence are raised by the community in which a hospice is located. Generous donations help to deliver programs and services to residents and their families at no cost, so they can focus on living the final stages of life well and with dignity.

• Donate
  • Every donation to hospice is a meaningful contribution to quality end-of-life care. There are many ways to make a donation, including through our Web site, our administrative office, a legacy or in memoriam gift, or a gift of securities.
• Volunteer
  • Hospice volunteers have a variety of roles to play, from being a resident or family support, to helping with meals and food preparation. Volunteers who work directly with residents must complete a 30-hour training course.  

To become a volunteer you must:

• Be 16 years or older, and 18 years or older to work directly with residents and families
• Submit an online application
• Attend a screening interview
• Show proof of vaccination

Note: Due to changes within our requirements and the personal availability of individual applicants, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will obtain a volunteer placement.

We require adherence to the organization’s COVID-19 vaccine policy (must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19) and an up to date vulnerable sector check.

• We are currently looking for volunteers for our committees and Board of Directors. If you are interested, please contact admin@marigoldhospicecare.ca for more information. 

• A referral can be made by the Most Responsible Physician (MRP) of the client such as a Palliative Physician or Family Physician. A referral can be completed by community stakeholders, but the Most Responsible Physician will need to be aware of referral and provide contact information. Your physician, together with our Intake Coordinator, will assess whether a patient qualifies for hospice residence care.
  • If an individual or family does not have a physician, our Intake Coordinator will provide assistance, by connecting and coordinating with our community stakeholders, such as Home and Community Care Services, and VON Durham Hospice Services.

Volunteers are an important part of our hospice care team. Volunteers help care for residents and support their family members by providing comfort measures such as hand and foot massages and helping with position changes; offering companionship including sitting with and listening to residents and family members as they journey through their difficult transition; and assisting with transportation, shopping and kitchen duties, gardening and grounds keeping, and light housekeeping duties. All volunteers are screened by staff, required to provide references, and must undergo a Vulnerable Sector Check. Individuals interested in working directly with residents will be required to take a 30-hour Fundamentals of Palliative Care course, offered free of charge.

• To inquire about becoming a volunteer with current hospice services operating in the community or with the new hospice residence, please contact admin@marigoldhospice.ca.
• We are currently looking for volunteers for our committees and Board of Directors. For more information please contact admin@marigoldhospicecare.ca

• Marigold Hospice Care is coordinating and collaborating with other health care providers in Durham Region. From Home and Community Care Support Services, to hospitals, we are connected to the resources that you and your family may need.  VON Durham Hospice Services provides many community-based bereavement and palliative care support programs. (list Web site here for VON Durham).   We would be pleased to help you find the supports you need.