At the age of 64 and with declining health, Earl, a resident at The Summit, made the tough decision to pursue Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). It’s not something he came to easy, but after struggling with the loss of his independence, he’s made the deeply personal choice, but with a few caveats.
“I needed to see my sister before I could even set a date,” said Earl.
With his sister Denyse living over 1000 kilometers away, and with finances being tight for everyone right now, the trip looked like it wasn’t in the cards for the family.
Denyse shares, “It’s something I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how we could afford it.”
Sasha Harper, a social worker at the Summit, has gotten to know Earl since he moved in during fall of 2025. “He’s always been a bright light, but he’s also very headstrong, and stands by his convictions,” says Sasha. “When he has spoken to me and other staff about considering MAID, he’s always been very clear that he needs to reunite with his family before he leaves this earthly plane – something I think many of us would have strong feelings about as well.”
Sasha reached out to Eldercare Foundation, as she’s seen the work we’ve done at the Summit to bring comfort and dignity to long-term care residents. “I knew we had to make this happen for Earl and Denyse, but I wasn’t quite sure how to get it done. As soon as I remembered the great work that Eldercare does in long-term care and directly for residents, I reached out to ask if they would consider supporting this visit with their Resident-In-Need Fund.”
By the Numbers
2oo
Approximate number of Resident-in-Need Fund requests granted since 2023
$63,000
Amount contributed to Resident-In-Need requests
3oo%
Expected increase in Resident-In-Need requests by 2029
19
Number of Island Health operated Long-Term Care residences that will soon be able to make requests to the Resident-In-Need Fund.
The Resident-In-Need Fund has supported a number of requests for long-term care residents in public facilities. Many residents have very little money left over at the end of the month to support both the small and large things they need to get through and maintain a good quality of life. This includes everything from small personal care items like socks, underwear, and toiletries, a ride to the doctor, as well as unique, but important, requests like a final visit with loved ones.
Tania Fritz, Program Manager at Eldercare Foundation and member of Lyackson First Nation, knows firsthand the important role that family plays within Indigenous communities. “I can’t speak directly for Earl and his family, but I know that family connections are not only a link to our past in Indigenous cultures but also a path to our future. Through colonization, these ties were often threatened or severed which makes being able to bring families together during pivotal moments like this even more valuable,” shared Tania. “Earl’s request to reunite with his sister really hit home for me and was something I could certainly relate to. I know that if any of my family members were in the same situation, they would want the same thing.”
Tania adds, “When Sasha reached out to us with Earl’s request through our Resident-In-Need Fund, the story really touched my heart. The Eldercare team jumped into action and worked with folks at the Summit to do everything we could to make it happen.”
“We really appreciate Eldercare stepping up and supporting this reunion. It means a lot to all of us,” shared Denyse.
Our deepest gratitude to Earl and Denyse for letting us share their story, for the excellent staff at the Summit for bringing this special request to us, and to our donors who helped us fund this vital work.
Interested in learning more or supporting this Fund? Visit the Resident-In-Need Fund page for more information.