Olds and District Hospice Society: A Decade of Making a Difference

The Olds and District Hospice Society is celebrating 10 years of serving the community and its families.

“The Hospice Society has helped over 320 families by providing quality, compassionate care in a home-like setting for those facing death,” says Mary Smith, Executive Director. “This is done by offering physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and educational support to individuals, their families and community at the end of life and during bereavement.”

Mary has been with the Society for seven months. “I have had loved ones close to me that have been through a hospice palliative journey and I experienced how valuable and meaningful hospice support is to not only the individual, but also the family members,” she explains.

The Olds and District Hospice Society started with five ladies discussing how the community needed better access to hospice palliative care. The women launched a non-profit organization and recruited talented, knowledgeable individuals that were happy to share their support and talents. Six years ago, the Society hired a part-time Services Coordinator and later, an Executive Director to help keep the Society’s vision moving forward.

“The Society has many passionate volunteers that have been touched by their own journeys with their loved ones and believe it to be a true honour to provide support to individuals and families facing a hospice palliative journey,” Mary adds.

Olds Hospice Society Founding Members

To celebrate 10 years of service, the Society is holding a Hearts for Hospice Gala on November 28, 2020.

“We would like to invite our friends, partners, stakeholders, community members, and local businesses to join us for an exquisite evening of appreciation, thanks, and celebration of our past, present and future,” says Mary. “The evening will include fine food, wine, dancing, and live music. The dress attire will be semi-formal to formal.”

Also upcoming is the May 3, 2020, Hike for Hospice, which raises funds and awareness through pledges in support of local palliative care.

Olds Hospice Society Current Members

Other ways to support the Olds and District Hospice Society is to volunteer to sit with clients or to participate on the board or a committee.

Palliative and end of life care is important because it connects not just the passing life, but their families and loved ones with the support they need during the transition. No matter when it happens or how expected it was, the passing of a life is difficult to cope with and issues such as grief, loss, and even anger must be addressed and worked through. The patient may require additional support such as with the acts of daily living (toileting, transferring, dressing, etc.) as their health deteriorates. This support can be difficult for family members to provide, especially since the patient may feel a loss of dignity in accepting the help needed.

The Olds and District Hospice Society ensures that help, locally in the community where the family resides, is at hand. This support is achieved thanks to caring volunteers and staff, a dedicated board of directors, and participation in fundraisers like Hike for Hospice. Your support makes a world of difference.

To learn more about The Society, the Hearts for Hospice Gala, and fundraising and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.oldshospice.com.