A landscaped backyard with a concrete pathway, green grass, and plants including bushes, grasses, and trees. There is a brown wooden bench on the left side and a white fence in the background.

Palliative Care

Palliative Care Program

Admission to the Palliative Care Program begins with a referral from your physician or medical specialist.

Once the referral is received, a community palliative care nurse will meet with you to assess your needs and develop a personalized care plan. This is followed by a visit from a community social worker, who provides additional support and resources for you and your family.

Understanding the Difference:

Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care

Palliative care and hospice care both provide comfort and support for individuals living with serious illness-but they serve different purposes at different stages of care.

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life and managing symptoms while treatment continues. Itcan be provided in the comfort of your own home and is available at any stage of illness.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is for individuals who are nearing the end of life and have chosen to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment. When the time comes, your physician or specialist can make a referral to Hospice House, ensuring a smooth and compassionate transition of care.

Palliative Care at Home

At the heart of our care is you and your family. Our collaborative team of healthcare professionals works closely with your physician to ensure your unique needs are met with understanding, compassion, and expertise.

We recognize that serious illness can affect the balance and stability of family life. That's why coordinated, in-home support is an essential part of our Palliative Care Program-helping you remain comfortable and cared for in the place that feels most familiar.

Support available through the Palliative Care Program at home may include:

• Community palliative nursing

• Home support services

• Medical equipment (such as a hospital bed, wheelchair, or walker)

• Occupational therapy

A medical hyperbaric oxygen chamber in a clinical room.

GRIEF RESOURCES

BC Bereavement Helpline 1-877-779-2223

www.BCBH.ca – email contact Mon, Tues, Thurs 9-5pm, Wed & Fri 9-8:30pm, Saturday 9-1pm

Compassionate Friends of Canada (loss of a child) lbuxton@frictioncreative.ca

MyGrief.ca online option

Griefshare.org online/in person options

Emergency Options

24 Hour Crisis Line 310-6789 (no area code required)

Suicide Helpline 1-800-784-2433

Penticton Hospital (until 11 p.m.) 250-492-4000 (state that you have a mental health emergency)

Emergency assistance anytime 911


Support Groups: (call the number listed for venue and times of group meetings)

Penticton 250-770-3486 Princeton 250-295-4464 Oliver 250-498-5045 Osoyoos 250-498-5045 Keremeos 250-499-3020