PROVIDING DEDICATED CARE TO PATIENTS LIVING WITH
A TERMINAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES
In Partnership with the Fraser Health AuthorityHospice Palliative Care Program
“You matter because you are you and
you matter to the last moment of your life.
We will do all we can to help you,
not only to die peacefully but to live until you die.”
- Cicely Saunders 1976
What is a Hospice?
A hospice is a home-like place that provides specialized comfort care for people living with a terminal illness during the last weeks of their lives.
As comfort becomes the primary goal, the patient’s care must include active management of pain and other unpleasant symptoms, as well as caring support of the patient and their family. Comfort also involves supporting the wishes of the dying patient, their personal values and beliefs, and those of their loved ones.
An individual who is registered on the Hospice Palliative Care Program can be admitted into hospice if they meet the following criteria:
agree with goal of care
have a life expectancy of less than three months
cannot be cared for at home
require symptom management, but not hospital care
Admission Process
Once the decision has been made that hospice care is necessary and the client meets the above criteria:
If the client is being cared for at home, the Home Care Nurse will assist the patient/family to access our waitlist.
If the client is in hospital, the attending physician will decide when acute services are no longer required and the hospital Social Worker will facilitate access to our waitlist.
All Hospice waitlists are managed by the Fraser Health Authority regional ACCESS program. Clients and families will be asked to choose two hospices in order of preference. Most of the time, the preferred hospice is available. If there is no vacancy at the first choice when the client’s admission is necessary, the client may be admitted to their second preference, but may have the option of transferring to their hospice of choice at a later date.
Provision of Care
Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses provide twenty-four hour nursing care under the direction of the Hospice Patient Care Manager. A hospice palliative care physician is always available. Physicians and nurses work closely with the Burnaby Hospice Palliative Care Team which includes: Clinical Resource Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Social Worker, Palliative Pharmacist and the Burnaby Hospice Society Volunteer Coordinator. In addition, several health care professionals from St. Michael’s Centre also provide services on a consultation/referral basis: Director of Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care, Music Therapist, Dietitian and Occupational Therapist.
Once a patient is admitted to the Hospice Unit, the attending physician will review all existing medications and make changes as necessary. All medications must be administered by the Nursing staff. It is important that patients inform the Nursing staff of all over the counter medications and herbal remedies that they are taking. This is necessary to comply with established Nursing standards of medication administration and to help avoid patient complications due to medications.
In Hospice, the cost of all prescription medications is covered by Pharmacare. However, some special medical supplies (e.g. ostomy products) are the responsibility of the patient.
