The annual ACT Palliative Care dinner on Saturday raised more than $120,000 for The Hub, a respite home for people with life-limiting illnesses to go for a few hours or a few days, either on their own or with their carer.
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The proposed site for The Hub is expected to be revealed soon.
ACT Palliative Care board president Louise Mayo said there was only one bed assigned to palliative respite at Canberra's hospice, Clare Holland House.
More than 500 people attended the dinner to address that shortfall, with The Hub the first facility of its kind in Australia.
"We would like to thank everyone for continuing to show their generosity and support of this innovative solution to palliative care respite, supporting both the individual living with a life limiting illness and their carers," Ms Mayo said.
The Hub will provide a peaceful "home away from home" for those in need of respite, cared for by staff and volunteers.
"We have the opportunity to make what is often a very difficult time for families, so much better with The Hub, a non-clinical support service which will complement other health services needed to manage end-of-life care at home," Ms Mayo said.
"Carers will have a place to share their experience with other carers."
Ms Mayo said the availability of palliative care respite services in Canberra was so limited that families were at breaking point.
"There is only one bed assigned to palliative respite at Clare Holland House, our only hospice," she said.
"People older than 65 who want to die at home can seek respite in an aged care facility although this is not what many of them want. For those younger than 65 the only remaining option is in hospital, a clinical environment that will certainly not give them respite.
"Families need more options and it's not the best use of our health services which are under increasing pressure."
ACT Palliative Care has been working over the past year with the ACT Government, the business community and a number of local developers to identify an appropriate site for The Hub.
'We have also been offered in kind services such as home design and architectural services, fixtures and fittings, furniture, concrete, building supplies and labour," Ms Mayo said.
