Hospice is both a philosophy and overall approach to care provided to individuals living with – and dying from – a life-limiting illness. Hospice palliative care is designed to relieve suffering and help people live their remaining time in comfort and with dignity. Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice has two hospice residences that provide exceptional palliative care in a tranquil, homelike setting to individuals whose death is approaching, as well as support for their loved ones through the end-of-life journey.

We are proud of our compassionate staff of Nurses, Personal Support Workers, Social Workers, Music Therapist, Bereavement Coordinator,  Spiritual Care Providers, and visiting pet therapy, all of whom have specialized training in palliative care. We are further supported by a team of four palliative care physicians who participate in one-month rotations, visiting the Houses twice weekly, and providing twenty-four-hour coverage, seven days a week.

We are also fortunate to have a committed team of over 200 volunteers whose contributions – from cooking, baking, gardening, to event planning and fundraising – help Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice immensely.

Collectively, our staff has decades of experience caring for people at end-of-life, and we believe each person’s final breath is as sacred as their first.

We are proud of our compassionate staff of nurses, personal support workers, social workers, bereavement coordinator, spiritual care providers, and pet and music therapists, all of whom have specialized training in palliative care. We are further supported by a team of four palliative care physicians who participate in one-month rotations, visiting the Houses twice weekly, and providing twenty-four-hour coverage, seven days a week.

We are also fortunate to have a committed team of over 200 volunteers whose contributions – from cooking, baking, gardening, to event planning and fundraising – help Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice immensely.

Collectively, our staff has decades of experience caring for people at end-of-life, and we believe each person’s final breath is as sacred as their first.

All referrals for hospice palliative care will be completed through a patient’s physician, nurse practitioner, or through a specific community service provider such as Home and Community Care Support Services Waterloo Wellington or Ontario Health Team. Because referrals are triaged daily, an Intake Lead from Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice will call the patient and/or their family to talk about the referral and determine the goals of care.

When a bed becomes available, our Clinical Lead will again reach out to the patient to offer a bed. Depending on the circumstances, the offer doesn’t need to be accepted immediately; patients may decide that staying in their current location and remaining on the list for the next available bed is the best choice. If you’d like more information on this process or need some help navigating the referral system, please give us a call at 519.208.5055 x523  – we welcome your questions and are happy to provide information that helps guide decision-making.

The short answer is, no. If the primary caregiver or family members live in the Region of Waterloo, you’re eligible for a referral to Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice. If you’re uncertain whether you or your family member qualifies to access care here, we welcome your call and your questions.

Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice has strict policies in place that protect the personal information of residents, potential residents, family members, employees, volunteers, and donors. The names of residents and visitors – both previous and current – are not disclosed to any staff or volunteers unless specifically required for their role. A privacy code is created for each resident, and only those who are given the code can receive updates about a resident over the phone. We know that maintaining a trusting relationship requires us to be accountable in how we treat information, and we carefully follow the principles set out by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of Canada.

Lisaard House is at 990 Speedsville Road in Cambridge, and Innisfree House is at 2375 Homer Watson Boulevard in Kitchener. While Innisfree House is on a bus route, Lisaard House is not currently accessible by transit.

Free parking, including accessible spaces, are available at both Lisaard House & Innisfree House.

All of the resident rooms in our Houses are spacious and private. Each has its own ensuite bathroom, a large reclining chair for guests, cable TV, radio, mini-fridge, a large table for photos, flowers, and other treasures, and ample closet space. Each room is outfitted with large double patio doors that open to the outside, bringing the tranquil gardens on each property into every resident’s room. Lisaard House has six private rooms, and Innisfree House has ten; please enjoy a virtual tour of the Houses here.

While there is no overall charge to residents or families for their time at Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice, there may be some expenses related to the care needs of individual residents, which might include:

• Medical transport to the Houses
• Medication not covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit or your third-party insurance
• Personal care items (i.e. toiletries, incontinence products)

There are a few things a new resident should have – a valid Ontario Health Card, paperwork for any applicable Powers of Attorney, medications, toiletries, and some clothing. Our Clinical Lead will be sure to discuss any other items that might be useful to have on hand.

We will provide all general dietary requirements; our staff takes time with each resident to discuss dietary preferences, and prepares all the meals and regular beverages. For those with restrictive dietary requirements and preferences, each room is equipped with a mini-fridge that families can fill with any preferred specialty items.

Please call our Intake Lead at 529.208.5055 x253 for information and advice about the current visitor protocol.

Our Clinical Lead will discuss provisions for a resident’s laundry with each family individually.

Pets are allowed to visit, provided they meet the requirements. Please check with staff; you’ll need to complete a pet waiver before bringing a pet into the hospice.

Supplies of consumable items to support the continued operation of our Houses are always welcome. For a list of current needs, please click here.

Yes – here are two:

• Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice – About Us
• Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice – What is Hospice?

Personal Health Information

Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice is a “health information custodian” for the purposes of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In accordance with PHIPA, we collect personal health information (PHI) about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that we collect may be in various forms and may include, for example, your name, photograph, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits to regional hospitals, and the care that you received during those visits. Occasionally, we collect personal health information about you from other sources, if we have obtained your consent to do so or if the law permits.

Uses and Disclosures of Personal Health Information

Access to your personal health information is available to those who need it in order to provide care. This may include physicians, nurses, technologists, therapists, and other health professionals. We use and disclose your personal health information to:

• treat and care for you
• facilitate continuity of care if you are transferred to another facility
• obtain payment for your treatment and care from OHIP, WSIB, private insurers or others
• plan, administer, and manage our internal operations
• conduct risk management and quality improvement activities including resident satisfaction surveys
• teach
• conduct and support approved research
• compile statistics
• conduct fundraising initiatives to improve our healthcare services and programs
• comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law

Non-clinical information about your visit such as your name, location in the facility, and telephone number in the hospice may be released to family and friends in order to confirm you are a resident or notify a representative of a religious affiliation to visit you if you wish.

Important Information

We take steps to protect your personal health information from loss and unauthorized use or disclosure. We conduct audits and carry out investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal health information for the purposes to which you have given consent.

Your Choices

You may request access to your record, withdraw consent for access to your record, or submit a request for correction to your record by contacting:

• Lisaard & Innisfree Privacy Officer, Executive Director, c/o Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice; 2375 Homer Watson Blvd., Kitchener ON N2P 0E9
• Tel: (519) 208-5055

How to Contact the Privacy Commissioner

If you have questions or concerns, you also have the right to contact:

• The Information & Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, 2 Bloor St. East Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
• Tel: (416) 326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073
• Fax: (416) 325-9195
• www.ipc.on.ca