What is Palliative and End of Life Care?
Palliative care is an approach to care that aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for people with a serious life-limiting illness, and their families, at all stages of the illness.
Palliative care helps by addressing all aspects of a person’s well-being – physical, psychological, social, spiritual, linguistic, cultural, and practical. This holistic approach to care can be provided in addition to care that focuses on treating the illness itself.
What types of palliative care services are available?
Types of palliative care services may include:
- primary health care provider (physician or nurse practitioner) and nursing services to assess and manage the progression of a life-limiting illness, including providing pain and symptom management to improve comfort and quality of life
- support with personal care
- paramedicine
- pharmacy
- psychological support
- spiritual support
- caregiver support
- grief and bereavement support
Where is palliative care provided?
Palliative care is delivered in all care settings, including:
- individual homes
- personal care homes
- long-term care homes
- hospice
- hospitals
- specialized palliative care units
How can I access palliative care services?
Many types of palliative care services are provided directly by the individual’s primary health care provider, such as their physician or nurse practitioner, who are already treating the individual with a serious illness.
An individual’s primary health care provider can provide referral when the individual requires more specialized palliative and end of life services.
Individuals who wish to receive end of life care at home can access home care services from the End-of-Life Program by contacting the Community Support Program in their Zone.