Hospice & Palliative Care
Purpose
To provide pain and/or symptom management or to facilitate end-of-life care with the goal of ensuring the best possible quality of life for dying clients and their families.
The interprofessional team consists of Palliative Physicians, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, Rehabilitation Assistants, Social Workers, Registered Dietitians, Speech Language Pathologists, and Spiritual Care Associates. If required, referral to a Psychologist can be made. The program works closely with Home and Community Care Support Services in order to facilitate clients’ discharges back to the community with formal support services.
Client Profile
- Adult clients who have advanced disease, are experiencing functional decline and require end of life care
- Palliative clients who have complex pain and symptom management issues that are not controlled
- Palliative clients with an unstable condition requiring close medical monitoring and extensive services
Admission Criteria
- Living with a life limiting or life threatening health condition and has a limited life expectancy regardless of the diagnosis.
- Client requires nursing and personal support services in a hospital setting
- Client meets the standardized admission criteria for Hospice and requires end-of-life care, or pain and symptom management.
Location
- Location: 4th Floor North at St. Joseph's Hospital
- Number of Beds: 32 Beds
The terms "hospice" and "palliative" care are used synonymously.(Canadian Palliative Care Association 2002). The term "family" is meant to address relatives and significant others as designated by the client.
