I still remember the first time I visited the St. Albert Foyer Lacombe Hospice. The autumn leaves were just beginning to turn, creating a kaleidoscope of oranges and reds visible through the large windows that let natural light flood the hallways. What struck me wasn’t the clinical efficiency you might expect, but rather the profound sense of dignity preserved within those walls.
Last week, I returned to witness something extraordinary – a program that’s changing how we think about end-of-life care in our community.
The Foyer Lacombe Hospice in St. Albert has launched their heartwarming “Final Wish” program, designed to grant meaningful experiences to terminal patients in their final days. This initiative allows individuals facing the end of their journey to fulfill one special request, creating moments of joy during an otherwise difficult time.
“We’re not just treating the illness. We’re honoring the whole person,” explains Shandra Nyberg, manager at Foyer Lacombe. “These wishes might seem small to some, but they represent enormous meaning to our patients and their families.”
The program began after staff noticed how small comforts – a favorite meal, a visit from a beloved pet, or even just feeling the sun on their face – could transform a patient’s final days. What started as informal accommodations has evolved into a structured program that’s now changing lives.
Take the story of 78-year-old Edward Timmons. After decades as a dedicated Edmonton Symphony Orchestra patron, his final wish was to hear classical music performed live once more. Through the program, three ESO musicians came to perform a private chamber concert in the hospice garden. Edward’s daughter Marian couldn’t hold back tears describing the moment.
“Dad’s face lit up in a way we hadn’t seen since his diagnosis,” she told me, gently holding her father’s hand. “For those thirty minutes, he wasn’t a patient anymore. He was just himself again, lost in the music he’s loved his whole life.”
The Final Wish program operates through community donations and volunteer support. According to Alberta Health Services data, approximately 500 Edmonton-area residents receive hospice care annually, with average stays ranging from days to several months.
Dr. Michelle Patterson, palliative care specialist who consults with several Edmonton-area hospices, explains why such programs matter. “Maintaining autonomy and honoring individual preferences isn’t just about comfort – research shows it positively impacts emotional wellbeing during end-of-life care.”
I witnessed this firsthand when visiting 63-year-old Catherine Wei, whose wish was surprisingly simple: to feel the texture of clay between her fingers once more. A retired pottery teacher, Catherine hadn’t worked with clay since her cancer diagnosis two years ago.
“It connects me to who I’ve always been,” Catherine shared as her hands expertly shaped a small bowl despite her weakened state. “This isn’t about creating something that lasts. It’s about remembering who I am in this moment.”
Local businesses have embraced the program enthusiastically. The Enjoy Centre donated fresh flowers for a patient’s 60th wedding anniversary celebration. Sorrentino’s delivered a specially prepared Italian feast for a former chef unable to cook his family recipes one last time. West Edmonton Mall even arranged after-hours access to the sea lion habitat for a former marine biologist.
“Edmonton has always been a community that takes care of its own,” notes Stephanie Crawford, volunteer coordinator for the program. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of local organizations willing to help make these wishes come true.”
The program isn’t just impacting patients. Family members report that participating in these meaningful experiences provides a different kind of closure – one centered on celebration rather than grief alone.
“When my mother wanted to see the stars one more time, the staff moved her bed to the garden on a clear night,” says Michael Cheng, whose mother passed away at Foyer Lacombe last month. “We laid there together pointing out constellations, just like we did when I was a child. That’s the memory I’ll carry with me, not the hospital rooms or medical equipment.”
Funding remains the program’s biggest challenge. While volunteers and donations sustain current wishes, expansion would require additional support. The hospice hopes to eventually extend the program to home-based palliative patients throughout the Edmonton region.
For those wondering how to help, the hospice welcomes financial contributions, volunteer time, and in-kind donations from businesses. Even sharing stories of the program helps raise awareness about this compassionate approach to end-of-life care.
As our population ages, programs like this remind us that dignity and meaning matter at every stage of life. The Final Wish program at Foyer Lacombe doesn’t change the inevitable outcome for patients, but it transforms the journey there – creating moments where joy eclipses sorrow, even if just briefly.
When I asked Nyberg what she hopes for the program’s future, her answer was simple but powerful: “We want every person to feel that their life has meaning until their very last breath. That’s not just good healthcare – it’s fundamental human dignity.”
In a medical system often focused on treatment protocols and efficiency metrics, this St. Albert hospice program offers a powerful reminder that compassionate care means honoring not just the patient’s medical needs, but their heart’s deepest wishes too.
For more information on supporting the Final Wish program, contact Foyer Lacombe Hospice in St. Albert.
