West Island Palliative Care Residence inaugurates new pavilion providing additional 14 beds

New facility near original residence building more than doubles capacity to meet needs, thanks to Quebec government funding and key donations

KIRKLAND, QC, April 27, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The West Island Palliative Care Residence (WIPCR) today inaugurated its new expanded premises that add 14 beds to the nine that have been operating in the residence's original building since 2002. The new Pavillon Stillview occupies a separate floor at Le Vivalis personal care facility on Stillview Road near Hymus Boulevard in Pointe Claire, just a few hundred meters from the original residence building on André-Brunet Street in Kirkland.

While certain services will be provided by the operators of Le Vivalis, the new pavilion has been developed and will be overseen by the WIPCR medical and administrative staff to ensure the same high quality and compassionate care that have been hallmarks of the residence for the past decade.

The expansion to 23 beds aligns WIPCR, which serves the whole West Island, with the norms recommended by the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services of one palliative care bed per 10,000 of population. The expansion has been made possible by an investment of $840,000 per year by the Quebec government as well as lead private donations from the Eric T. Webster Foundation and from Pfizer Canada Inc. Pfizer has donated $80,000 to maintain five beds.

"This is a wonderful milestone and a great achievement for everyone involved with the West Island Palliative Care Residence, especially all our generous donors and volunteers who make everything we do possible," said Teresa Dellar, Executive Director of WIPCR. "With this added capacity we will be much more able to meet the great need for quality palliative care services on the West Island, care that is both necessary and essential."

"Pfizer Canada is very proud to make this further donation to the West Island Palliative Care Residence to facilitate this much-needed expansion," said Rhonda O'Gallagher, Executive Director, Corporate Communications at Pfizer and a member of the board of directors of the WIPCR Foundation. "This is a natural continuation of Pfizer's support of this vital community institution that has been ongoing in a variety of ways from its very inception, including the efforts of many of our employees as volunteers."

One of the important new features of the expanded facility will be beds available for up to two weeks at a time for terminally ill patients who are still able to be cared for at home but whose caregivers require a respite. This will give family caregivers more support and a much-needed rest, or enable them to continue to work and reduce the financial strain of a terminal illness.

In addition to maintaining the same compassion and warmth that the residence has become known for, the Pavillon Stillview will provide access for loved ones of patients to stay the night, and will offer fresh meals prepared daily on site by a chef as well as bereavement services.

The addition of the new beds means WIPCR will be able to care for 350 terminally ill people each year and makes it one of the largest palliative care centres in Canada. The expanded facility will help reduce the number of people who have to spend their final days on a stretcher in an emergency room or on a hospital medical ward.

Along with the support of government and donors already secured, the additional services will require a further $400,000 each year raised from community donations.

About Pfizer Canada

Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Pfizer Canada has nearly 3,000 employees working at six facilities across Canada and in many other communities in every province. Every day, Pfizer Canada employees work to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time, applying science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. This commitment is reflected in all activities, from disease awareness initiatives to community partnerships and the belief that it takes more than medication to be truly healthy. To learn more about Pfizer's More Than Medication® initiative and programs, visit www.morethanmedication.ca. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit www.pfizer.ca or www.facebook.com/Pfizer.Canada .

About The West Island Palliative Care Residence

WIPCR provides active and compassionate care in order to comfort and support terminally ill patients and their loved ones, while continuing as a leader in palliative care within the province of Quebec and Canada.  Opened in October 2002, the mission of WIPCR is to provide terminally ill patients a place to spend their end-of-life days in comfort and dignity in a warm, home-like environment, close to their family, and in their community.

WIPCR is at the forefront of providing superior care within the community health care network, to serve as a role model and resource for other communities wishing to build freestanding palliative care residences, and to promote education not only to health care professionals, but also to the community as a way of increasing awareness and promoting understanding about the needs of terminally ill patients and their family. WIPCR values, recognizes and respects the individuality and autonomy of each person. It strives to address the complex needs, hopes, fears, suffering and expectations of each patient, while supporting their dignity and optimizing their quality of life through relief of suffering.

Referrals to WIPCR are made through Montreal area hospitals, doctors, CLSCs and NOVA. More than 1,800 persons have received end-of-life care since WIPCR opened in 2002.  For more information, please visit www.wipcr.ca.

Teresa Dellar
Executive Director, West Island Palliative Care Residence
514-693-1718