The St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Association (SASHA) is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit association committed to palliative care in our community. We came together in October 2013 as a grassroots organization and began an awareness campaign to seek support from the public, politicians, healthcare officials and community service groups to provide secure hospice beds in our community. We became a registered society in 2014, and received charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency in January 2015.
SASHA operates many programs within our community that support our mission and vision statements. Our Compassionate Care Volunteer Program provides respite and support for caregivers and companionship for the end-of-life, often lonely client. Together, with the Homecare program (who provide hands-on medical and personal care), SASHA supports the clients in providing the emotional, spiritual, companionship, and respite needed by the family/support unit.
Our Compassion Bag Program provides items for both the person who is ill and their caregiver. Items include handmade lap quilts, neck support, socks, notepad, puzzle books, personal items and snacks. These items are given to the hospice patients at Foyer Lacombe when they are admitted to the unit and through Home Care, to community end of life clients who meet the requirements of benefiting from receiving one of these bags. We believe receiving a Compassion Bag shows support and caring for those going through an end-of-life experience.
Our Hospice Tea Program provides a little reprieve from the normal routines of hospice life, both for the patient and for their families. Our volunteers serve tea and pastries set out on fine china to the residents of Foyer Lacombe Hospice. This simple gesture demonstrates our vision of honouring people in their end of life care by bringing joy and comfort to them.
Our Connect Cafés are a reflection of our vision to provide opportunities for members of the community to gather for presentations on a variety of topics such as end-of-life decision making, available palliative supports in the community and how to discuss your medical wishes with your loved ones, to name a few.
SASHA has a partnership with Covenant Care and supports the individuals utilizing the hospice spaces at Foyer Lacombe in St. Albert, Alberta. Support includes fundraising for identified and agreed upon projects and/or equipment needs. To date, SASHA has provided funds for a major tub room renovation, creating a spa-like setting including a soaker tub with lift and a fireplace. We have donated Recliner chairs for each room, Broda chairs to allow patients to be moved into common areas to visit family as well as a bariatric bed which allows family members to lie with their loved ones.
This content was produced by the St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Society. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.
