Ontario announces new hospice funding

The Ontario government announced on Thursday it will increase funding to hospice services across the province, including Lisaard House in Cambridge and Innisfree House in Kitchener.

Lisaard House will be receiving an increase in funding of $90,000, while Innisfree House will receive $150,000.

"Hospice care is an absolutely crucial service to have in our community," said Kathryn McGarry, MPP of Cambridge, in a release.

"Investing in compassionate support for those at the end of life's journey is important, and is beneficial not only to patients in our health care system, but to our community, and families of patients in our area."

Hospices across Ontario need more support as baby boomers age, according to Kitchener Centre MPP Daiene Vernile.

"Our local hospices will be using this money for their operations," she said. "They'll be able to handle greater capacity. [Funding] is going to be put into their facilities and helping with their staffing costs."

As part of the 2016 budget, the province is investing $75 million over the next three years to provide patients with more options and access to palliative and end-of-life care.

However, Ontario is adding an additional $13.9 million over the next three years, which will increase funding for existing hospice beds by $15,000 per adult bed and $22,400 per pediatric bed.

The province says it will be providing increased funding to 39 hospice facilities and will support up to 20 additional hospices.