New hospice beds on the way for Langley

LANGLEY, B.C. — A new hospice facility is under construction in Langley, B.C.

The new 15-room hospice residence will serve those in need of end-of-life care and allow them to be closer to their homes and families.

“This next step in the construction of the new Langley hospice residence will increase options for end-of-life care in the community by 50 per cent to ensure that residents have access to personalized care and supports when they need it most,” said Adrian Dix, minister of health, in a press release. “High-quality, compassionate hospice services play a fundamental role for people as they reach the end of their life, and our government is committed to supporting our community partners in bringing important projects like this one to completion.”

The B.C. government, through Fraser Health and BC Housing, will contribute $5 million toward the hospice. The Langley Hospice Society is providing $2.28 million through community support and donations. The province, working through the BC Centre for Palliative Care, is providing $900,000 and the Township of Langley is providing $219,000 as a grant/waiver of municipal charges. Fraser Health will continue to provide operational funding at the new residence.

“The new Langley hospice will provide people a comfortable home with compassionate and accessible end-of-life care and services,” said Selina Robison, minister of municipal affairs and housing. “For people in Langley, this means people will receive the very best care during their final days, and their families will receive the emotional support and services they need close to home.”

The province stated it expects the facility to be finished by the end of next summer. It will replace the 10 hospice beds currently on the Langley Memorial Hospital campus, which will free those beds up to be used for long-term care.

The hospice’s design includes specialized care spaces and private rooms with outdoor access for each resident. Each space will have a dedicated sanctuary, family kitchen, laundry and washroom. The new residence will also include the community’s first bariatric room.