'There's life all around'

Jacquie Bell, Fred McGinn and Betty Mortonpause on the verandah of the Hospice Society of GreaterHalifax’s new home. (Nick Pearce Photo).

The Hospice Society of Greater Halifax’s dream to open aresidential hospice took a great leap forward when it got the keysto a century-old home in a quiet Bedford neighborhood.

The four-bedroom, two-storey house is a long way from being aplace where the terminally ill can live out their last days incomfort, but it’s something to start with, says Fred McGinn,chair of the hospice society. Last November, Halifax RegionalMunicipality agreed to sell the house at 9 Spring Street in Bedfordto the society for the sum of $1.

At the society’s Annual General Meeting on March 31,volunteers were able to throw open the doors to their new digs.

“As you can see, it needs work,” says Dr. McGinn,director of Dalhousie’s School of Health and HumanPerformance, pointing out the holes in the parlor ceiling where thepipes burst over the winter. The shingles on the porch aredisintegrated; the upstairs rooms have carpeting circa 1970; andthe entire house is in need of a paint job.

But it’s spacious and light-filled with views of theBedford Basin. Known to locals as “the Teachery,” thehouse is surrounded by perennial gardens and borders a tennis courton one side and a playground on the other.

“We love the setting—there’s life allaround,” says Mr. McGinn. “You can just imagine sittingin the living room watching a ballgame or on the verandah lookingout at the harbour.”

With a new home base, the society hopes to bring more volunteerson board. Now located in offices on Spring Garden Road in Halifax,the Bedford house will also be ideal for its bereavement supportgroups.

Dr. McGinn became involved with the hospice society, followingthe passing of his parents and their two, very differentexperiences of dying. His mother died of cancer five years ago inhis home, surrounded by her children, grand children and siblings.“It was sad, emotional, comfortable,” he says.“It was as lovely as you would expect death to be.”

If only his father could have died with as much comfort.Instead, he died in an acute care bed in hospital after being movedaround from ward to ward, bed to bed. “It’s not the wayyou want to see your father leave the world,” says Dr.McGinn.

“Seventy-five per cent of us will die like that, in anacute care bed,” he continues. “My dad was one of thosepeople. It’s not a nice place be, taking up a bed for peoplewho need treatment.”

Also serving on the society’s board are two Dalhousieprofessors: family physician Stephanie Arnet Connidis andpalliative care physician Rob Horton. Going forward, Dr. McGinnsees opportunities for Dal students interested in working in apalliative care setting. 

Interested in helping out? The society is holding its Hikefor Hospice 2010 on Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m. Hikers can register atthe Bedford house at 9 Spring Street in Bedford from 1 to 2 p.m.For other volunteer opportunities, contact hospice@eastlink.ca.

LINK: HospiceSociety of Greater Halifax