Palliative Care is Everywhere
The first full week of May marks National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada. The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is the national leader in the pursuit of quality hospice palliative care in Canada through supporting initiatives of public policy, education, knowledge translation awareness and collaboration. The Prairie Mountain Health Palliative Care Team is joining this annual awareness campaign to celebrate this year’s theme “Palliative Care is Everywhere”
Palliative care is a commitment to whole person care that helps to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for those who have a life limiting illness that cannot be cured. Palliative care helps clients, and their families, with physical care, emotional needs, pain and symptom management, spiritual care, cultural needs, end of life planning and bereavement. Comprehensive and quality palliative care is holistic care designed to support the client’s mind, body, spirit, and family when and where they need it the most.
Palliative care can be provided where ever the client is located, including in their own home, the hospital, a personal care home and/or the palliative care unit. The Palliative Care team can assist the client and family with determining their preferences for end of life care and help facilitate the resources needed to support these goals. Some people choose to die at home with the resources of family, nursing and home attendant support. If their needs can no longer be met in the home, or if they choose to die in a healthcare facility, admission to the hospital, palliative care unit or a personal care home is available.
The Regional Palliative Care team assists with connecting clients and families with helpful resources regardless of where they live in Prairie Mountain Health. When a referral is made, the Palliative Care Coordinator contacts the client or family to talk about their needs and develop a plan of care. The Regional Palliative care team works closely with many members of the interdisciplinary team including: the client, their family, facility staff, home care, pharmacists, physicians, other allied health professionals, community organizations and trained palliative care volunteers.
Every family navigating the challenges that arise when a loved one is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness deserves the best quality of care and support we can offer. Referrals to the program can be made by the client themselves or their family and physician. Learn more.
Palliative care is everywhere – Meet the team!
