A helping hand from Vistas House

However, Vitas House Hospice, however, has made this dream become a possibility.

Through the donations of corporate citizens such as the Massy Foundation, as well support from individuals, patients, and their families, the Vitas House Hospice has been able to provide terminal cancer patients with a 12-bed facility and round-the-clock medical and nursing care since February 2009.

In welcoming the Vitas House as the newest addition to the Massy Foundation’s annual subvention list, Amanda McMillan, the Massy Group’s employee benefits manager lauded the hospice’s board, management, staff and volunteers for the magnificent work that they have been doing over the past eight years. Mc- Millan said in a media release: “The Massy Foundation is proud to be associated with this worthy cause as we recognise the importance of persons being able to spend their last days in a caring, comfortable environment. For this reason, the foundation has provided one-off funding in the past, and now looks forward to an ongoing relationship with Vitas House.” Lilia Mootoo, Vitas’ general manager,was full of praise for this new partnership with the Massy Foundation: “This financial support will go a long way in allowing Vitas House to achieve its goal of reducing physical pain, fostering emotional well-being and enhancing spiritual peace for all our patients during their last days. It will also assist in ensuring that the facility is maintained to the optimum standards and that the necessary medication and supplies are available.” Mootoo emphasised the importance of volunteers who are always welcome, as they provide much needed company and entertainment for the patients, many of whom are bedridden.

With ongoing facility maintenance and upgrades being an ongoing challenge, the management has an ongoing building fund through which it hopes to access a much larger and more modern facility in the future. For more info: http://www.vitashousehospice.

com/about/