Receiving a diagnosis of a life-limiting or terminal illness can be devastating and can send patients and their families into a state of despair and hopelessness. Planning for end-of-life care may seem overwhelming, but many services are available to help people live well during the terminal phase of an illness. A phone call to your local hospice is all it takes to receive helpful advice, an empathetic ear and practical tips and support. Find out more in this week's episode.
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About Hospice Quinte
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family.
Hospice Quinte serves a population of over 102,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. To find out more visit HospiceQuinte.ca.
Receiving a diagnosis of a life-limiting or terminal illness can be devastating and can send patients and their families into a state of despair and hopelessness. Planning for end-of-life care may seem overwhelming, but many services are available to help people live well during the terminal phase of an illness. A phone call to your local hospice is all it takes to receive helpful advice, an empathetic ear and practical tips and support. Programs may vary by each hospice, but common programs offered by each one includes on respite, caregiver and bereavement support and hospice residence services. Let’s discuss the services in more detail and see how they can be of assistance during a time of distress.
Caregivers for someone with a chronic illness or terminal many hours a week of care for a loved one or friend. Intensive caregiving may mean that you have to reduce your employment or the number of hours you work. You may have to reduce your social commitments to fulfill your caregiving role, which can leave you socially isolated with no one to turn to. Hospice Quinte offers two caregiver support programs: caregiver supportive counselling and caregiver peer support. Caregiver supportive counselling from a community hospice staff member can assist you with developing a caregiver respite plan, help in advance care planning conversations and direct you to valuable resources in the community which can assist in lessening caregiver strain. Caregiver peer support offers phone support by a trained hospice volunteer for up to 12 months, regardless of whether or not the person cared for receives hospice services themselves. Many caregivers feel that they are alone in their journey and peer support can diminish feelings of loneliness.
Caregiver peer support is often the first step in receiving additional hospice services such as the in-home hospice or visiting volunteer service. Persons in their last 12 months of life, who require considerable assistance and frequent medical care may receive up to 4 hours/week of companionship and caregiver respite. Visiting volunteers receive up to 30 hours of training in end-of-life care. Caregivers can leave home to run errands, do yardwork or part-time employment knowing that their loved one is well looked after and in good company. Receiving respite care is also good news for the caregiver’s own health as research has shown that receiving palliative care supports in the home reduces caregiver strain as well as reduces unnecessary emergency room admissions for the palliative person.
Sometime medical needs progress beyond what a family can manage at home and transition to a hospice residence may be required. Hospice Quinte currently has 6 beds at the Stan Klemencic Care Centre, which is fully staffed with Registered Practical Nurses and Personal Support workers trained in hospice palliative care. The Stan Klemencic Care Centre is a bright and cheery space which can accommodate family members in the spacious dining area, family rooms or who wish to quietly sit vigil with their loved ones. Caring and empathetic staff members are available during sensitive moments to offer sympathy when needed.
Newly bereaved family members may also participate in bereavement support groups. Hospice Quinte offers an 8-week Grief Toolbox Bereavement Support Group for bereaved persons aged 18 years and older. The 8-week Support Group provides social support while exploring coping strategies and sharing of the grief experience with others in a similar situation. Helpful strategies and advice are provided by community hospice staff and trained volunteers.
The services discussed in this podcast are offered absolutely free of charge!
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family. We serve a population of over 110,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.