उपशामक देखभाल संसाधन
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need it?
Palliative care will help you manage your illness, particularly pain and symptoms so you can continue to live life as well as you can while dealing with your illness. You may need it or want to have it from diagnosis or you may choose to take it up once your illness progresses to a certain stage. You may have an on-off rotation through palliative care through various stages of your illness as you have periods of wellness and illness.
What services are available from hospice palliative care?
The number and variety of hospice palliative care services will vary from place to place but here are some examples:
- Expert medical care to help with pain and other symptoms.
- Emotional support for family members and friends.
- Spiritual support, covering all faiths and beliefs.
- Trained volunteers to visit and give emotional support.
- Arranging for home care services.
- Arranging respite care for at-home caregivers
- Telephone counselling in crisis situations.
- Help in adjusting to change.
- Ongoing bereavement support after the death of a loved one.
How do I access services?
Family physicians and front-line care providers, including care co-ordinators, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and spiritual care providers, all play a role in providing palliative care.
These providers can access support from a palliative care team, providers who specialize in complex care planning and symptom management. Their support can complement the care that patients receive from their primary care provider and other members of the care team, but is not meant to replace it.
For a list of contacts by region, please go here.
Where can hospice palliative care be provided?
Hospice palliative care can be provided in any setting at home, in hospitals, in nursing homes or in special hospice facilities.
How much does it cost?
Most palliative care services are free, but there may be some costs associated with hospice and hospital care.
Who will help my family when I am gone?
Palliative care also supports caregivers and family members. There are a number of support services for people who are grieving. Our Healing Pathways – Grieving Well online directory provides more information on how to access some of the resources your family may need.
Contacts By Region
Annapolis Valley Palliative Care Service (Kings & Annapolis Counties)
Phone: 902-542-6303
Fax: 902-542-6607
Cape Breton County, Northern and Central Inverness County and Victoria County
Phone: 902-567-7846
Fax: 902-567-7962
Colchester County and Municipality of East Hants Palliative Care
Phone: 902-896-2612
Fax: 902-896-2608
Cumberland County Palliative Care
Phone: 902-667-5400 ext 6344
Fax: 902-667-1012
South West Palliative Care Service (Yarmouth, Shelburne & Digby Counties)
Yarmouth phone: (902) 749-4481 fax: (902) 749-1735
Shelburne phone: (902) 875-4508 fax: (902) 875-4509
Digby phone: (902) 245-2502 ext. 1304 fax: (902) 245-5337
Guysborough Memorial Palliative Care
Phone: 902- 533-3702 – ext 3230
Fax: 902- 533- 4066
Guysborough, Antigonish and Richmond Counties and Southern Inverness Counties
Phone: 902-863-2830 ext. 4419 or 4566
Fax: 902-867-3777
Email: pallcarereferralsez-gasha@nshealth.ca
Halifax Regional Municipality (not including IWK Health Centre)
Inpatient and outpatient consultative services: Phone: 902-473-2132
Please fax referrals to 902-425-6778
Palliative Care Inpatient Unit (VG-7A) Phone: 902-473-3119
Palliative Care Bereavement Coordinator: Phone: 902-473-1622
Palliative Care Volunteer Coordinator: Phone: 902-219-1856
Pictou County Palliative Care
Phone: 902-752-7600 x4190/2022
Fax: 902-755-7315
South Shore Palliative Care Service (Lunenburg & Queens Counties)
Phone: 902-634-7529
Fax: (902) 527-5413
St. Mary’s Memorial Palliative Care
Phone: 902- 522-2882 ext 240
Fax: 902- 522-2556
Strait Richmond Palliative Care
Phone: 902- 625-7211
Fax: 902- 625-2202
Tri-facilities (Eastern Shore / Musquodoboit Harbour / Middle Musquodoboit)
Phone: 902-889-4185
Fax: 902-425-6778
West Hants
Phone: 902-792-2255
Fax: 902-425-6778
What to do when facing a serious illness: 3 sets of questions to ask your health care team.
1. What does it mean to have this serious illness?
All serious illnesses are different. Some serious illnesses can be cured, and others cannot be cured. Some illnesses can last a person’s whole life. Others can get worse over time and shorten a person’s life. Find out about the nature of your illness.
Ask your health care team:
- Can my illness be cured?
- Will my illness get worse over time?
- Will it shorten my life?
2. What can I expect now and in the future?
Experiences with serious illness are personal and different for everyone. However, each serious illness usually follows a general pattern based on the experiences of many others who have had the illness before. Understanding the pattern your illness might follow can help you know what to expect in each stage.
Ask your health care team:
- Can you explain the general pattern and the different stages of my illness?
- What stage of my illness am I in?
3. How can I get ready for what comes next?
There are important decisions to make throughout your illness. Following these steps will help you and the people closest to you prepare. The first step is to gather information from your health care team about what to expect along the way. The second step is to learn about where you are in the development of your illness. The third step is to think about what is most important to you. These steps will help you work with your health care team. They will also help you make decisions about your care.
Ask your health care team:
- What changes should I expect with my illness?
- What important decisions will I need to make as my illness changes?
- What can I do now to help me get ready?
Ask yourself:
- What is most important to me and those closest to me? Share this information with your health care team.
Speaking up and asking questions can be hard. These 3 sets of questions can help you understand your illness and what comes next. They can also give you more choice and control and help you be more hopeful and prepared.
संसाधन
Coping with Grief and Trauma
ACP Workshop
Government of Canada
EI Caregiving Benefits
Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life
The Process of Dying
What Happens When Someone is Dying
Who Cares: A Podcast about caregiving in Canada
The Waiting Room Revolution podcast
ADD THESE RESOURCES LIST AT THE TOP VIA THE RESOURCE CUSTOM POST TYPE
A Caregiver’s Guide: A Handbook About End-of-life Care
Carechannel The Waiting Room Revolution podcast
Who Cares: A Podcast about caregiving in Canada
What Happens When Someone is Dying
Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life
Online Learning
Care Connections Program
Pallium’s Care Connections Program consists of a suite of resources and activities to support the millions of Canadians who are caring for their family, friends, and members of their communities. These resources are provided for free and are designed to empower every Canadian to support the caregivers in their lives and to help strengthen the important social connections within our communities. Pallium Canada
Caregiving Essentials
Caregiving Essentials is a free, self-paced online program designed to support family and informal caregivers. It offers practical knowledge and skills to help you care for loved ones at home while enhancing your own health and well-being. McMaster University
Caregiver Support Education & First Nations Caregiver Support Education
Caregiver Support Education & First Nations Caregiver Support Education This website is meant to assist caregivers in finding the support they need, exactly when they need it. There are up to 20 topics with tips, videos, and activities to go along with each topic. Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
Caregiver Support Education & First Nations Caregiver Support Education
About Grief
Programs and services in your province or territory for people grieving or supporting someone else. About Grief
Providing Care
A self-paced course that includes information on sleep and caregivers, help with medication, care for yourself and much more. Canadian Virtual Hospice
Living My Culture
Quality palliative care helps you honour your culture, spirituality and traditions. At LivingMyCulture.ca, people from various cultures share their stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life and grief to support others. Canadian Virtual Hospice
CaregiversCAN
If you are caring for someone who is ill or living with mobility challenges, these modules are for you. Access them anytime of the day or night, as many times as you need, and at no cost. Canadian Virtual Hospice.
Government of Canada: Explore the Full Spectrum of Palliative Care
Explore the full spectrum of palliative care.
Palliative care is important but often misunderstood. Let’s explore how it can help people with serious illness live life to the fullest. Download infographic.
For Indigenous Persons
Preparing for the Journey. Caring for Indigenous Peoples Who Are Seriously Ill
This guide provides Indigenous health and social care providers, family, and community members with practical guidance and support on caring for people with serious illnesses.
Source: Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health, Lakehead University
LivingMyCulture.ca
At LivingMyCulture.ca, people from various cultures share their stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life, and grief to support others.
Source: Canadian Virtual Hospice
First Nations Caregiver Support Education
Self led information on topics like the palliative approach to care, understanding how being a caregiver affects you, honouring the priorities of the person you are caring for, and more.
Source: Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
Coming Full Circle. Planning for Your Care
This guide helps you reflect on your values, beliefs, and wishes for care and share this information with your loved ones.
Source: First Nations Health Authority and Canadian Virtual Hospice
Your Care, Your Choices
This conversation guide helps you learn about Advance Care Planning. The goal is to support you, your family, and health care providers to walk side by side through your life and journey into the Spirit World.
Source: First Nations Health Authority
Elder’s Guide
This guide ensures that Elders, their families, and caregivers have access to information about the programs, services, and resources they need. It is a comprehensive resource.
Source: First Nations Health Authority
National Caregiver Organizations or Programs
Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence supports and empowers caregivers and care providers. It advances knowledge and strengthens the caregiving field. The organization also advocates for strong and effective social policy using a disability informed approach.
Caregiving Matters
Caregiving Matters provides education and support to family caregivers. It offers a place where caregivers can learn, connect, and gain insight into the many challenges and responsibilities of caregiving.
Canadian Home Care Association
The Canadian Home Care Association works to advance national priorities in home and community care. It shares knowledge, builds connections, informs policy and practice, and advocates for integrated home and community care across Canada.
Carers Canada
Carers Canada is a national coalition dedicated to increasing recognition and support for caregivers. Through collaboration and engagement, members raise awareness about the important role caregivers play and the challenges they face.
Victorian Order of Nurses
VON nurses, personal support workers, therapists, and other health care providers deliver clinical, personal, and social support services in homes and communities across Nova Scotia and Ontario.
Respite and Caregiver Support
These services and programs from VON support the essential role of family caregivers by providing relief, assistance, and practical help.
Young Caregivers Association
Through programs such as Powerhouse, the Young Caregivers Association empowers young people who care for loved ones and helps them grow, succeed, and thrive.