Hospices in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge (2027): Residences and Free Programs
Waterloo Region has three hospice residences: Hospice Waterloo Region's 11-bed Cook Family Residence, Innisfree House in Kitchener and Lisaard House in Cambridge. Who qualifies, who refers, and the free programs you can call about yourself.
By Jonathan Kennedy · Last reviewed November 2026
On this page (5 sections)
Waterloo Region has three hospice residences run by two charities: Hospice Waterloo Region's 11-bed Cook Family Residence in Waterloo, and Innisfree House in Kitchener (ten rooms) and Lisaard House in Cambridge (six rooms). As of November 2026 none charges families for the stay, and admission starts with your parent's doctor, nurse practitioner or Ontario Health atHome. The free community programs take a phone call from you.
Maybe you're coordinating with siblings in different cities, trying to work out who to call first. In Waterloo Region, there's a simple answer: both hospice charities have a direct line, and talking to them commits you to nothing.
Do this next:
- Ask your parent's doctor or care coordinator for a referral to the residences; Lisaard and Innisfree intake is 519-208-5055 ext. 253.
- Call Hospice Waterloo Region at 519-743-4114 for volunteer visits, the Day Away program or a volunteer driver. No form needed.
- Cover care at home meanwhile: compare home care agencies in Kitchener for palliative shifts.
Which hospices are in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge?
| Hospice | Where | What we confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Hospice Waterloo Region (Cook Family Residence) | 100 Solstice Way, Waterloo | 11 beds; prognosis of less than three months; residence 226-666-3547 |
| Innisfree House | 2375 Homer Watson Boulevard, Kitchener | 10 rooms; no overall charge; 519-208-5055 |
| Lisaard House | 990 Speedsville Road, Cambridge | 6 private rooms; no overall charge; 519-650-1121 |
Innisfree House and Lisaard House are one charity, separate from Hospice Waterloo Region. In June 2026 it announced a Hospice Navigator program to help families understand hospice options and eligibility earlier in an illness; ask about it on the intake line.
Who qualifies, and who refers?
- Cook Family Residence: for a prognosis of less than three months and a care plan that's "palliative not curative." The referral form is filled in by a family physician, care coordinator, home care nurse, hospital discharge planner or palliative specialist.
- Innisfree and Lisaard: referrals come from a physician, a nurse practitioner, or a community provider such as Ontario Health atHome. Your parent can be eligible even if they live outside the region, as long as the main caregiver or family lives in Waterloo Region.
What does hospice cost in Waterloo Region?
Nothing for families. Lisaard and Innisfree say "there is no overall charge to residents or families," and Hospice Waterloo Region says all of its programs and services are offered free of charge. Ontario's palliative care page confirms medically necessary palliative care in a hospice costs patients nothing.
What can start at home now?
Hospice Waterloo Region's community programs are designed for roughly the last 12 to 18 months of life, so they can start well before a bed is needed:
- Weekly volunteer visits at home.
- Day Away, a weekly program in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge.
- Complementary therapies, counselling and volunteer drivers.
- Grief support: walking groups, one-to-one support, counselling and group series, open to anyone whose loved one died of a palliative illness. Lisaard and Innisfree's bereavement coordinator also reaches out to each family after a resident dies.
Its Cambridge office is at Langs, 1145 Concession Road. Families in Guelph and Wellington County can see our Guelph hospice guide.
Our take: don't wait for a referral to call Hospice Waterloo Region. The community programs need no form, they're free, and a volunteer driver or a weekly Day Away can make the next few months easier on everyone.
What should you ask the hospice?
- Which residence has the shortest wait right now?
- Can family stay overnight?
- Can the Navigator program help us before a referral?
- What grief support will we be offered afterwards?
Frequently asked questions
How many hospices are in Kitchener-Waterloo?
Waterloo Region has three hospice residences: Hospice Waterloo Region's 11-bed Cook Family Residence in Waterloo, Innisfree House in Kitchener (ten rooms) and Lisaard House in Cambridge (six rooms).
How do I get my parent into Lisaard House or Innisfree House?
A physician, nurse practitioner or a community provider such as Ontario Health atHome sends the referral. Intake is 519-208-5055 ext. 253. Your parent can live outside the region if the main caregiver or family lives in Waterloo Region.
Is hospice free in Waterloo Region?
Yes. Lisaard and Innisfree say there's no overall charge to residents or families, and Hospice Waterloo Region offers all of its programs and services free of charge.
Can I call Hospice Waterloo Region without a referral?
Yes. For its community programs, such as volunteer visits, Day Away, counselling and volunteer drivers, you don't need a form: call 519-743-4114. The residence needs a referral from a health care provider.
Last reviewed November 2026. We keep our guides current as costs, programs, and options change.
Need personal guidance?
Our advisors can help you apply this to your family, free and confidential.
