Laval Palliative Care Home opens in St. Vincent de Paul district
Located on beautiful site facing Rivière des Prairies with a 12-bed capacity
Published December 1 , 2009
By Martin C. Barry • TLN

The Laval Palliative Care Home, the island’s first palliative care facility, will be welcoming its first patients in December, following an official opening last Monday attended by staff, members of the board, and officials from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
“We would like to welcome you today to a beautiful place that directly reflects our mission — to offer free services to adults at the end of their lives so that they may spend their final moments peacefully surrounded by their loved ones in a family-type environment,” said Robert Hayes, chair of the LPCH’s board of directors, before joining others for an official ribbon cutting.

In a quiet location
The LCPH is located on a quiet waterfront street looking out over the Rivière des Prairies in Laval’s St. Vincent de Paul neighbourhood. It is a large family-style residence. With a 12-bed capacity, it also offers accommodations for friends and family. The facility is part of a network of integrated palliative care services. It works alongside and in partnership with the provincial network of health and social services, particularly the Laval Health and Social Services Centre.
The mission of the LCPH is to offer free service to adults at the end of their lives. The LCPH is also a training centre for care providers and volunteers and offers on-site grief support services. The LCPH staff is composed of an interdisciplinary team of care providers, including doctors, nurses, support workers, volunteers and administrators, to look after the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of end-of-life patients.

Peaceful environment
On Monday, an opening cocktail party brought together a good number of dignitaries, including Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, the Liberal MNA for Mille-Îles, Francine Charbonneau. Business people like Alain Bouchard, CEO of Alimentation Couche-Tard and chair of the LPCH fundraising campaign, were also present. Guests had the opportunity to tour the premises and discover a warm, peaceful, family-oriented environment, where end-of-life patients will be able to spend their last days in respect and dignity.
The LCPH started slowly more than a decade ago as an idea. In 1997, a small group of people conscious of the need to humanize end-of-life obtained the letters patent for a non-profit organization in order to open a palliative care home in Laval. Before undertaking fundraising initiatives, the project’s developers conducted a needs assessment that clearly indicated the relevance of such an establishment in the Laval area. Then board members visited several palliative care homes to validate the project’s feasibility and viability.

A lengthy effort
In 2004, the board expanded to include new members, particularly from the business sector. A director was hired and began a number of initiatives to promote the project and obtain support, as well as financial assistance from the governments, the municipality, public and private organizations in the area and the population. In September 2004, the LCPH launched its fundraising campaign in order to build the home and ensure operations during its first year. In June 2006, with four major donors on board, property for the home was purchased: a lovely spot alongside the river.