The evening was a heartfelt celebration recognizing the vision, dedication, and community spirit that made Andy’s House possible. Since opening its doors in 2020, Andy’s House has become a cornerstone of compassionate palliative care in Muskoka, providing comfort, dignity, and support to over 1000 residents and their families through their most difficult journeys.

Guests enjoyed light refreshments, a warm atmosphere, and brief remarks from Hospice Muskoka’s leadership and board representation, reflecting on five remarkable years of growth and gratitude. The program included a special acknowledgment of Bob and Shirley Potts and the Andy Potts Memorial Foundation, whose generosity and continuous support have been instrumental in the creation and ongoing success of Andy’s House.

Executive Director Donna Kearney expressed deep appreciation for the community’s ongoing commitment:

“Andy’s House exists because of the extraordinary kindness and generosity of the people of Muskoka. This celebration is a tribute to everyone—our donors, volunteers, staff, and community partners—who have helped us deliver compassionate end-of-life care close to home.”

The evening also included recognition of staff members who have been with Andy’s House since its opening, a testament to the dedication and heart behind the organization’s mission; ‘To Walk With You on Your Palliative Journey’.

Hospice Muskoka continues to grow its programs and outreach across the region, including Andy’s House, Andy’s House at Home, and Hospice Muskoka Community Programs, ensuring that every individual and family in Muskoka can access the specialized palliative care and comfort they need.

For more information about Hospice Muskoka or to learn how you can support their ongoing work, please visit www.hospicemuskoka.com.

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A key component of this initiative is the integration of each hospice into RVH’s electronic medical record system, MEDITECH Expanse. This advancement will ensure critical patient information is readily accessible, allowing for faster, more informed decision-making while reducing the administrative burden on clinical teams—giving them more time to focus on patient care. The next phase will expand this integration into the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) medical records system, further enhancing coordination across area healthcare organizations.

Donna Kearney, Executive Director of Hospice Muskoka explains how this will strengthen care at Hospice Muskoka–Andy’s House. “Improving the Electronic Medical Record used in hospices allows us to connect to our local health system partners, such as your primary care providers or the local hospital. This allows us to share your medical information using a secure method, so we can provide the best care possible for you and your loved ones.”

This initiative has been made possible through a one-time investment from the Ministry of Health, aimed at improving information sharing between healthcare sectors. By bridging gaps in health records, this project ensures patients receive the most comprehensive, coordinated care available.

The successful launch of this project is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the Hospice Muskoka staff whose efforts made this partnership possible. “For the past two years,Project Lead Sarah Hudson, Medical Director Christine Degan, Volunteer Coordinator Julie Charters and Client Intake Coordinator Abby Crowe, have been working with RVH and ourhospice partners,” says Executive Director Donna Kearney. “Together they developed a standardized approach to client charting, medical management and data collection. Hospice Muskoka is grateful to each of you for your expertise and contributions.”

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The partnership integrates the hospices into RVH’s electronic medical record system, MEDITECH Expanse, creating a seamless flow of information and improved patient care.

For patients and families, this collaboration means a more compassionate and cohesive healthcare journey. By connecting care settings between hospitals and hospices, patients will experience smoother care transitions as they no longer need to repeatedly share their medical histories. Healthcare providers gain timely access to critical patient information, enabling faster, more informed decisions and reducing administrative burdens.

“This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration,” says Dave Brewin, RVH Vice President Digital Health and Regional Chief Information Officer. “By sharing our expertise and aligning our resources, we’re building a system that not only enhances the patient experience but also lays the foundation for a more connected, efficient healthcare future.”

The project’s implementation brings profound changes to hospice operations. For some, it represents the first move to digital charting, replacing paper-based systems with a streamlined and efficient process. This shift reduces administrative burdens and allows staff to focus more on providing care. Additionally, the integration standardizes documentation practices, ensuring consistency across all participating hospices while creating new opportunities for benchmarking and research.

“Every organization came to the table with a collaborative spirit and a commitment to meeting each organization’s unique needs,” says Kelly Hubbard, Executive Director, Hospice Simcoe – Seasons Centre. “Together, we’ve created a solution that ensures patient privacy, streamlines workflows, and strengthens the integration between hospitals and hospice services.”

All four hospices benefit from additional resources, training, and advocacy necessary to deliver top-tier care, all while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and security.

“Our partnership highlights the importance of resource-sharing and community investment,” says Donna Kearney, Executive Director, Hospice Muskoka. “Individually, our hospices might never have had the financial or technical means to implement such a transformative system. Working alongside RVH has provided access to technology, advocacy, and support that will elevate the quality of hospice care for years to come.”

The project was made possible by one-time funding from the Ministry of Health. This funding supports initiatives that increase access and sharing of clinical information across sectors, enabling interoperability and reducing the fragmentation of clinical health information systems.

“This project demonstrates that when we work together, we can achieve remarkable things,” says Debbie Kesheshian, Executive Director, Hospice Huronia – Tomkins House. “It’s about improving the patient experience today and creating a legacy of innovation and compassion that we hope will inspire other hospices across the province to do the same.”

“At the end of the day, it comes down to improving the experience we deliver to our patients and their families,” says Trish Rawn, Chief Executive Officer, Hospice Georgian Triangle. “They trust us during a very difficult time in their lives. This partnership is a perfect example of how we can harness the power of technology and collaboration to create meaningful change. By working together, we’re able to deliver care that is more responsive, connected, and patient focused.”

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Their hope is to inspire others in the community to rally together to raise an additional $35,000. With a 55% decrease in donations this December, the matching challenge comes at a critical time for Hospice Muskoka–Andy’s House.

“This financial gift is not only a meaningful way to honour the loss of a loved one, it is a call to action,” said Donna Kearney, Executive Director of Hospice Muskoka. “By matching this donation, the community can help us continue providing care and support to those impacted by death and illness.”

To participate, visit tinyurl.com/HMmatch35, email info@hospicemuskoka.com or call us at 705-646-1697 ext 212.

Together, let’s honour the legacy of love and compassion that inspires this challenge and ensure Hospice Muskoka can continue providing Palliative Care to our community.

Hospice Muskoka is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to walk with people on their palliative care journey. Fully accredited by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) our services are provided by a team of health care professionals and dedicated volunteers who maximize comfort for people who are terminally ill by reducing pain and addressing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Find out more about Hospice Muskoka by visiting www.hospicemuskoka.com.

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The Dr. William Monk Community Health Care Development Fund was established in October 2023 as a community-centric tool to attract, retain and develop primary health care professionals across Muskoka. The donation to Hospice Muskoka is the first initiative supported by the fund, and monies will go towards immediate operational needs while Hospice Muskoka seeks provincial government funding, and also towards the organization’s efforts to hire an additional Nurse Practitioner to assist with the growing demand for services at Andy’s House and for in-home programs.

Hospice Muskoka is the only Nurse Practitioner-lead hospice in Ontario. Currently on staff are a Nurse Practitioner who serves as Medical Director and a Nurse Practitioner who is also the Executive Director. The Nurse Practitioners provide 24/7 call for the residents of Andy’s House and clinical oversight 5 days-a-week. With an aging population and a growing demand for services, the hiring of an additional Nurse Practitioner will allow current staff to be supported at Andy’s House, and will also allow for the expansion of additional programs offered by Hospice Muskoka, including assisting with in-home pain and symptom management needs for palliative community members.

“Before learning about the funding challenges for Hospice Muskoka, I was not aware that their Nurse Practitioners’ wages are absorbed in the operating budget and not automatically covered by the province; the organization relies on donations and grants to cover them,” said Kathryn Monk. “Recognizing the need to not only retain the exceptional and dedicated Nurse Practitioners currently on staff who are working full tilt, but to also attract an additional primary care professional to help with their current and expanded services, I hope that this donation will assist in some small way in achieving this important short-term goal.”

“The Muskoka Community Foundation is honoured to support the work of Hospice Muskoka through the first grant made from the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund” noted Lynn DeCaro, Executive Director of the Muskoka Community Foundation. She went on to add “Supporting community service organizations like Hospice Muskoka is crucial to ensure innovative and community centric programs can continue to be offered across Muskoka’s vast geography.”

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Through a unique agreement and with funding provided through the Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team, five transitional care beds at Andy’s House in Port Carling have been dedicated to MAHC patients seeking end-of-life care in a homelike environment.

On May 21, 2022, the first MAHC patient arrived at Andy’s House through a streamlined admission process. One year later, just over 100 patients have received excellent palliative care in the most suitable environment for the patients’ end-of-life care needs, supported by experienced providers at Andy’s House from the Hospice Muskoka clinical care team, including PSWs, nurses, social work, volunteers and two Nurse Practitioners who provide 24/7 coverage.

President & CEO Cheryl Harrison is proud of the collaborative effort, which through efficient use of local healthcare system funding has increased the availability of acute care beds at MAHC, created opportunities for unfunded rooms at Andy’s House, and provided quality end-of-life experiences for patients and families.

“MAHC’s partnership with Hospice Muskoka has provided greater streamlined access to palliative care at Andy’s House for our community,” says Harrison. “Through dedicated pathways we have developed with the hospice team, there are immediate referrals to the transitional palliative bed, giving people quicker access to the end-of-life care that best fits their needs and desires.”

Hospice Muskoka Executive Director Donna Kearney agrees that the partnership over the past year has been a win from every perspective.

“We have come a long way since those first patients crossed the threshold into hospice,” says Kearney. “Freeing up acute care beds, increasing access to hospice beds, cost savings for taxpayers, and most importantly specialized end-of-life care in a home-like setting are all being achieved.”

The collaboration is also an example of the Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team (MAOHT) bringing system leaders together to find solutions that work for Muskoka.

“The Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team is committed to integrating services and developing collaborative partnerships that improve health care in our communities,” add Dr. Keith Cross and Brenda Gefucia, Co-Chairs of the Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team Alliance Council. “Advocating for and securing approximately $500,000 for these transitional beds is an excellent example of what we can accomplish for patients when we work together to bring resources to our community.”

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Rideout originally painted a mural at Andy’s House, a residential hospice in Port Carling, in the spring of 2021. She did it to thank the community for its support during her cancer treatment, and she’s donated several other murals since. When she heard about Hospice Muskoka’s plans to create a pediatric palliative care room at the hospice, she reached out in hopes of painting its walls. The room already had wallpaper put up, so the team at the hospice asked her to beautify the room’s entryway.

“The theme is magical Muskoka, and so I tucked in lots of little hidden things for the kids and the family members,” Rideout said. “If they’re in the hallway there, they could sit in front of it for quite a while and just stare at it and try and find all the different things.”

Before the reveal, staff, residents, friends and family waited down the hall near Rideout’s first mural. Once she was ready, everyone made their way to the entry of the pediatric room, oohing and awing as the curtain came down. 

From fairies hidden in flowers to fireflies and butterflies flitting about, the mural captures fantasy and the real-life magic of nature. A textured tree wraps around the door and out into the hallway, which displays a serene landscape with a far-off castle and a gentle waterfall.

“I wanted to keep it natural looking and have some elements that were sort of fun and interesting for the kids but still make it appealing for the adults,” she said. “It’s hard to say this, but the purpose of that room is for children that are at the end of their journey. My hope was, with putting the castle in the clouds, to have it like there’s a magical, hopeful something beautiful that exists in the clouds for them.”

Despite being the artist, the reveal was Rideout’s first time seeing the completed piece all at once. She worked behind a curtain starting on Feb. 12, completing the mural in a matter of days with only a few lamps and flashlights to light her space. She said it was neat to finally step back and see it as a whole on the day of the reveal.

She wants to thank Quinn Spencer, manager of the Bracebridge Home Depot, for donating materials for this mural as well as several others. She knows how much support Hospice Muskoka needs, financially and otherwise, to continue offering the services they do, so she hopes the mural will remind people of how important it is to donate money and time to causes like Andy’s House.

As much as the artwork is for the future children in the pediatric palliative care room, it’s also for the staff at Andy’s House in general, Rideout said. She hopes it’s a reminder for them every day of just how amazing they are.

“They are just such an incredible group of people that have such incredibly loving but also strong hearts,” she said. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for [personal support workers] and nursing staff and even the volunteers that go in there. That place is so filled with love.”

Sarah Hudson, clinical coordinator at Andy’s House, said it was special to have Rideout back for another reveal because it felt like a full-circle moment. The second mural is “breathtaking” just like the first, she said, which she always makes sure to feature during facility tours.

“It’s honestly a gift,” Hudson said. “It’s one of the pieces that as I walk through the halls and I am showing somebody the hospice itself, whether it be a family, a resident or a new team member, it’s actually part of my tour that I tell a little story about Kimberly and how we ended up with the mural and why it’s important to us.”

The new mural also coincides with exciting progress on the hospice’s new pediatric palliative care room. Though they don’t have an official opening date yet, the room is fully furnished thanks to the Anne Marie Bailey Fund based in British Columbia. 

The fund was created by Bailey’s husband after her death to help terminally ill children. After the folks behind the fund heard about Hospice Muskoka’s pediatric room, they provided $20,000, which covered the majority of the costs to furnish and open it.

“We don’t have a current timeline on it yet,” Hudson said. “Everything is mostly set up in the room. We’re just making sure that our staff and the organization itself are ready to take on referrals so that when we do, it’s the smoothest process possible for those new clients.”

Seeing the room full of furniture and decor makes it more real that they’ll be able to open the room soon, she said. Though it’s heartwrenching to consider the end-of-life needs of children, the room will make the process easier on families and help other kids in need of transitional care.

If a local family has their child at a larger hospital like SickKids and needs nursing care to transition home, Andy’s House will be able to offer that care. In speaking with other hospices, the team found that many pediatric palliative care stays are respite stays to help parents and other family members get some rest.

“We know that taking care of somebody 24/7 is quite hard, and everybody needs a break at some point,” she said. “We can provide that break for those families if that’s something that they want, and then later down the road if they choose to use a hospice in their care plan, it’s not so scary because they’ve already been here before.”

Hudson said Hospice Muskoka is in a period of rapid growth, so she encourages locals to stay tuned for the opening of the pediatric room as well as other announcements coming soon. In the meantime, she and everyone else at Andy’s House will continue discovering every beautiful part of their new mural.

“I’m still finding little pieces of it every time I walk back there today,” she said. “Just the thought that you could create something magical for a child and their family in an awful time of their lives, it was kind of a beautiful thought that we could bring some magic back to people.”

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Hospice Muskoka created Andy’s House in honour of OPP Constable Andrew Potts, who died in a collision while on duty in 2005. A year later, his partner Constable Matt Hanes and his father Bob Potts created the Andy Potts Memorial Foundation. The foundation partnered with Hospice Muskoka to build Andy’s House, which accepted its first patient two years ago this week. Matt Steer, public relations and fundraising specialist for Hospice Muskoka, said the anniversary has allowed their staff to pause and reflect.

“The progress that’s been made in the organization of Hospice Muskoka and at Andy’s House has been huge,” Steer said. “It’s also a time to be able to look forward at the role that Hospice Muskoka and Andy’s House is going to play in the coming years as well in the region.”

The facility started with three end-of-life beds and a staff of 12 people. Since then, they’ve grown to eight beds and a team of 23 nurses and personal support workers. They’ve had 180 residents receive care over two years, and a third of them have been in the last six months alone.

The expansion to eight beds was made possible through a short-term agreement with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, but Hospice Muskoka is still petitioning for full government funding for all eight beds. They’re also petitioning for support for a pediatric-specific palliative care room, which they hope to have open by the end of the year.

Government funding currently covers just 45 per cent of Hospice Muskoka’s operations, and because they don’t charge people in need of palliative care, they rely on donations for the remainder of their costs. Funding is crucial to keep as many beds as possible open at Andy’s House, Steer said, but it’s also essential in allowing Hospice Muskoka to expand.

“There are only eight beds [at Andy’s House], and there are people out in the community that have other plans when it comes to end-of-life care,” he said. “They may want to stay in their homes, and so we want to be able to increase our services over the next few years and really be able to serve the towns of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.”

Steer said they hope to set up sites across their service area of southern and western Muskoka to offer pain management clinics, grief and bereavement services, and advanced care planning services. Having physical spaces to gather outside of Andy’s House will allow them to grow their services while also making them more accessible to a wider range of people.

In the meantime, they’re borrowing space at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Bracebridge to host a grief and bereavement group for parents and youth coping with death. The group will meet on the third Tuesday of each month, and though admission is free, registration is required.

Community-led fundraisers continue to make a huge difference in supporting Hospice Muskoka and its services, Steer said, and they’re incredibly grateful to the people who take the time to organize third-party events. Whether it be cooking classes, community barbecues or a Halloween-themed hike, there are often many ways for locals to get involved and make a donation.

People looking to support Hospice Muskoka can also purchase a virtual butterfly to display their loved one’s name or enter a 50/50 draw for a chance to win money. No matter the method of support, every little bit helps people in Muskoka deal with death.

“We know that there is a huge demand for our services currently, and that need will only continue to grow in the coming years,” Steer said. “Our hope is that we can meet that demand across all corners of our region and help as many people as we can along the journey.”

To learn more about Hospice Muskoka and Andy’s House, visit the organization’s website or email Matt Steer at msteer@hospicemuskoka.com.

Hike And Haunt For Hospice Returns On Boyes Bridge Lane In Gravenhurst

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This year’s Hike and Haunt will be held at 1050 Boyes Bridge Lane off of Doe Lake Road from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 29. Gravenhurst resident Kevin Boyes and his wife Erin first created the fright-filled trail for their daughter and her friends two years ago. The trail system on their property is usually used for walking dogs and riding ATVs, but they transformed it using Halloween decorations and volunteer scarers. The group of 10-year-olds raved about it, inspiring the community event that launched last year.

“They had a great time and talked about it for weeks afterwards,” Boyes said. “We thought it’d be fun to expand it and open it up to more people, so last year was the first year that we really promoted it and really kind of spent a lot of time organizing the stations.”

Admission for the inaugural event was a suggested $5 donation, but the 250 attendees gave much more, raising a total of $2,500 for Hospice Muskoka. Boyes said it was exciting to see the generosity of the community while also giving local kids a special day of Halloween fun.

As guests walk along the trail, they come across a new station every couple hundred feet. Each area has a theme, such as a graveyard, creepy clowns, a witch’s cauldron and a body part bridge complete with eyes and hands poking out of each opening. Setting up the event takes a lot of time and resources, so any donations of decorations, candy and volunteer hours are welcome.

“We have received a lot of supplies, which is amazing that people have been so generous, but it does take quite a bit, as you can imagine if there’s 300 or 400 kids,” he said. “We’re expanding, by the way, from about eight stations to at least 12 this year.”

The fun of the event outweighs the hard work, he said, so he can’t wait to see people of all ages enjoy the attraction. The walk isn’t stroller or wheelchair-friendly, but anyone who can manage the average outdoor trail in Muskoka will be able to enjoy the event.

Admission is once again $5 per person, and all proceeds will support Hospice Muskoka. Boyes and his family are hoping to beat last year’s numbers by attracting 300 to 400 visitors, aiming to raise more money for Andy’s House, a residential hospice facility in Port Carling. 

Boyes’ wife Erin was close to OPP Constable Andy Potts when he died on duty in 2005. That along with her time studying gerontology make the Andy’s House, named in Potts’ honour, a cause near and dear to her heart. Her business Body By Design Fitness Studio is sponsoring the event, and many clients have already donated treats and money.

Matt Steer, public relations and fundraising specialist for Hospice Muskoka, said it’s incredible to see local families and business owners generate support for Andy’s House with such creative events.

“We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support,” Steer said. “I know that it holds a very special place personally for them as well, Andy’s House specifically, and so supporting Hospice Muskoka as a whole really helps to keep Andy’s House funded.”

Steer said the team at Hospice Muskoka wants to thank them for taking their time and resources on the Hike and Haunt. He and several other staff members plan to bring their families to enjoy the tricks and treats, and they look forward to supporting the event in the years ahead. 

While a Halloween haunt may not seem like a heartwarming occasion, the donations and support from the community make it that much more memorable.

“People are giving with their hearts, I think, more than their heads and that’s what means a lot,” Steer said. “The service that we provide, it touches people’s emotions and it touches people in the heart, so to be able to receive that generosity from members of the community, it’s really touching.”

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating candy and decorations can reach out to Kevin Boyes at kboyes@muskoka.com.

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