A palliative care room in the Friendly City is going to look a lot cozier thanks to a local group. 

Recently, the Early Bird Lions Club dropped off not only a new TV but also a cheque for $10,000 to Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw for their palliative care room located at Pioneer Lodge. 

The Hospice got its start a handful of years ago by the wants of a local woman who was going through her end of life journey. She thankfully had loved ones by her side and could pass in the comfort of her own home, but had the foresight to know that not all residents have that opportunity to spend their final days in a facility that appears more like a home than a medical facility. 

President for the Hospice, Lena Hartman, said having what might seem like something small to someone means the world to someone else who is preparing to say goodbye to their friends and family.

"What I find is that it makes the journey easier for the person who's in the bed, and for the family who ultimately has to face life afterward as well. It's much more comforting and settling for them to know that they can spend time with them, they were feeling very comfortable while they were there and all their needs were looked after."

With the recent donation from the Lions Club, they'll be able to purchase a variety of household items to enhance the final memories that families could create.

"If there's a place for someone and family to stretch out beside them, to have a little bit of room for extra family members bigger than a normal room. Little comforts of home like the music they enjoy or on the TV a flash drive with pictures of the family that they can kind of reminisce with the person who's in the bed or just even all of the family members getting together," said Hartman.

She also noted that their relationship with the local club has been long-standing since they created the Hospice, adding they've been nothing but fully supportive. 

"I know this is something so cliche, but really they are the wind beneath our wings. They have really buoyed us up, they have kept us going through the parts that were maybe more difficult in our journey when we thought we weren't getting anywhere fast enough they were really there for us. As well, to financially support us and take us where we need to be to really do the things we want to do."

Hartman stated that in the last year they've also created a partnership with the Health Authority as well, so now if patients would like to they can also move over to the palliative care room at Pioneer Lodge for their final time if they wish to do so.