The admissions process is designed to ensure that people in the Algoma District who are nearing the end-of-life can receive compassionate care in a home-like environment rather than a hospital. Hospice care focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than attempting to cure illness. People are usually referred to hospice when they have progressed to a point where treatment is no longer expected to be effective, and their care needs such as pain control, symptom management, and 24-hour support, have become difficult to manage. ARCH provides residential hospice care in a small facility with ten beds, allowing staff to offer individualized attention and support to both patients and their families.

 

To be admitted to ARCH, the resident must meet several criteria. They must live within the Algoma District and have a diagnosed life-limiting illness. The resident's goals of care must be palliative, meaning that the focus is on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatment. They must also be eligible for services through Ontario’s Home and Community Care Support Services, which helps coordinate healthcare and ensures medical oversight while the patient is in hospice. Although there is no strict rule about life expectancy, hospice care is typically intended for people who are believed to be in the last few months of life. However, if someone lives longer than expected, they are not discharged simply because they outlive an estimated prognosis.

 

One important feature about ARCH is that there is no cost to the resident for their stay. The facility is funded through a combination of support from the Ontario Ministry of Health and donations from the community, including fundraising events and local contributions. The hospice provides meals, care, medical equipment, and the residential facility itself at no charge to the resident. However, families may still be responsible for certain expenses that are not covered by public healthcare, particularly medications that are not included under the Ontario Drug Benefit program. In those cases, a local pharmacy bills the patient’s designated decision-maker or power of attorney, usually on a monthly basis, and these expenses can often be claimed as medical costs on income taxes.