SFMH Palliative Care Program
What is Hospice Palliative Care?
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association gives the following definition.
“Hospice Palliative Care aims to improve the quality of living and dying. Hospice Palliative Care strives to help patients and families:”
Hospice Palliative Care aims to:
Who can benefit from Hospice Palliative Care?
Hospice Palliative Care is appropriate for any patient and/or family living with, or experiencing symptoms due to a life-limiting illness.
When is Hospice Palliative Care initiated?
Hospice Palliative Care is appropriate at any time the patient and/or their family have unmet expectations and needs and are prepared to accept care. Answering questions and addressing needs early in the illness helps maintain quality of life for as long as possible. Palliative Care is supportive care and can be initiated years before death and should not be viewed as care for the last weeks and days of life.
Who refers patients to Hospice Palliative Care?
Patients and /families can request a palliative approach to care. Your Physician, Care Coordinator, Charge Nurse or any member of the care team may initiate a referral. Care is provided when the patient and/or family is prepared to accept it.
Who Provides Hospice Palliative Care?
A multidisciplinary team trained in Hospice Palliative Care provides care within, and reaches beyond the walls of St Francis Memorial Hospital. The team consists of doctors, hospital or LTC nurses, community care nurses and service providers, pastoral care, physiotherapists, recreational therapist, discharge planner and the Madawaska Valley Hospice Palliative Care staff and volunteers.
What Services are available?
Services are provided by trained health care professionals and dedicated volunteers.
Care is guided by quality of life that is defined by the individual and given with compassion to ensure comfort and dignity, respecting each individual patient’s choices.
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