A new hospice will open its doors in Geneva on 1 October, providing palliative care for people at the end of their life, who can no longer be cared for at home but who do not wish to spend their final days in a hospital.
Situated in Chêne-Bougeries, La Maison de Tara will provide a warm, caring and friendly environment for residents… a real home from home… as well as much-needed support for families and friends. As a non-profit, secular foundation, the hospice is able to operate through the generous support of several communes in the region, and through the help of compassionate donors and volunteers.
The hospice will be set up along similar lines to the Dutch hospice movement, where most care homes are small to conserve a family-like atmosphere. Patients staying at La Maison de Tara will have access to the same medical care as they would have received at home, and will be able to retain the same medical and social networks that existed before admission, including doctors, home help nurses, and physiotherapists etc. Skilled carers will be on hand, day and night, to provide reassurance, respond to needs, and offer a friendly ear and companionship. Families will be able to have the same level of "involvement" as they would at home, but will be able to take advantage of the additional support provided by hospice staff and volunteers for relatives and friends.
She adds, "The vision of La Maison de Tara rests on the understanding that, far from being a moment to give up, proximity to death can make life even more vivid. It is a special time for both the dying person and their loved ones, when issues can be resolved, love and affection expressed, and happy memories reviewed. Anyone who accompanies someone through the dying process grows and learns from the experience. This also helps to start the process of grieving."
It is anticipated that La Maison de Tara will accommodate annually between 60 and 70 patients for an average stay of three weeks. Family members and close friends (estimated at some 300 people) will also require support during this period, and possibly beyond the moment of death of the patient, during the period of mourning.
All costs related to medical care of the residents will be covered by their medical insurance, as would be the case if they were at home. However, the daily rate charged for each resident’s stay is not covered by insurance. This charge is kept to the minimum – 50% of the real cost - through the contributions of skilled volunteers and external donations. Anyone, wishing to support the foundation, and enable them to continue subsidizing patient expenses can make a donation via the website (see address below).
Before the hospice opens officially on 1 October, there will an opportunity for potential patients, family members, doctors, nurses, home care services, neighbors and the general public to visit the house on 23 and 24 September. These two Open Days will provide visitors with the opportunity to see the house and its installations, meet the hospice’s friendly, multilingual staff and volunteers, and ask questions, whilst relaxing with a drink in the hospice’s magnificent tree-filled garden.
La Maison de Tara
79, chemin de la Montagne
1224 Chêne-Bougeries
022 348 86 66
www.lamaisondetara.ch (Click on “Do you prefer English?” to view site in English)
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