P & D Hospice Society ~ Programs & Services

When Should Someone Begin the Hospice Palliative Program?

Because it can take some time for Hospice Palliative Care professionals to tailor palliative care and symptom management to each person, It is best to begin some level of professional care before a crisis exists. Families often feel it is “too soon” to begin palliative care and wait until death is very near. Bringing hospice professionals in at the last minute limits their effectiveness.

A better approach is to arrange introductory home meetings or Hospice House visits well in advance of need and obtain counseling from a hospice professional that can provide helpful suggestions on care arrangements. Put the support network in place before you need it. The decision to begin palliative care may intensify feelings of grief and bereavement, both in the person who is terminally ill and in others. Hospice Palliative Care professionals are available to help manage these feelings and help you through this end of life process.


Hospice Home Program

Did you know that palliative care is available to you at home?

Advanced illness disrupts a family’s equilibrium – for this reason, providing coordinated care within the comfort and security of your home is an essential component of the Palliative Care Program. Our program of services is available, to you and your family, either in your home, or when admission to Hospice House becomes necessary.

Based upon your needs, home care nursing; home support; physical and occupational therapy; emotional and nutritional counseling is available to you. You and your family are the center of our Palliative Care team. An interdisciplinary, collaborative group of health care providers will work with you and your physician. Our goal is to provide you and your family with the services you need to meet your specific palliative care needs.


Hospice Palliative Care Team

The Penticton & District Hospice Palliative Care Program is a “program” of care rather than a “place” of care. The “care” offered is geared towards your comfort when cure or active treatment of the disease is not an option. Our goal is that both you and your family members are supported through this time of illness, death and bereavement according to your needs and wishes. Assistance may be provided by a variety of team members and may occur at home, in hospital or in Moog & Friends Hospice House.

We offer skilled and compassionate medical care, together with social, emotional and spiritual support from professional and volunteer caregivers. We focus on your care and comfort, rather than a cure. This means that we work to control symptoms that may interfere with your daily living rather than trying to cure your disease. In all of this, we will maintain respect for your right to be a person, rather than just “a client” or “a family”. You, your family and your other caregivers have access to a number of services. These services are there to support you and help you deal with a variety of concerns that may arise.

The Hospice Palliative Care Team refers to everyone who has a part to play in your care at this time. It includes you, your immediate family members and involved friends, as well as your Palliative Care Team:

How well we all work together is crucial to the quality of your care.


Social Work Program

Referral to the Hospice Palliative Care Program can raise many practical issues, for you and your family, as you consider the use of services to help you manage care at home and, when to consider an admission to Moog and Friends Hospice House. The Palliative Care Social Workers can offer you and your family assistance and information to help you make these decisions.

It is often helpful to have a knowledgeable and skilled professional to help anticipate events and needs and to give you a different perspective on a situation. You may need advice about where to go for help or you may want psychological, social and emotional support for yourself and family members.

The Palliative Care Social Workers may help you with:

Family Issues:

  • dealing with the challenges of providing care
  • addressing family problems
  • setting, evaluating, and attaining life goals
  • exploring family beliefs and rituals
  • reviewing life and sharing of your personal legacy
Grief Issues:

  • dealing with the changes for you and your family
  • adapting to the  losses that happen during illness
  • understanding the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of grief
  • planning for spiritual support

 

Practical matters:

  • planning options of care (for symptom management, respite, community resources)
  • communicating with the Hospice Palliative Care Team
  • assisting with advance planning for estate planning, wills, finances, preparation for death, and funeral arrangements
Education:

  • learning to practice self-care
  • managing stress
  • developing symptom management and relaxation techniques
  • reviewing tasks of care giving
  • exploring community resources

BC Palliative Care Drug Program

Complete details of the BC Palliative Care Drug Program are available by contacting Health Insurance BC (HIBC) at 1-800-663-7100.


Palliative Care Medical Supplies & Equipment Benefits

Interior Health staff, determine client needs for supplies and equipment and make arrangements for the provision of the needed supplies and equipment.

Medical Supplies

Health authorities are required to provide these medical supplies to eligible palliative clients at no charge to the client:

  • Routine dressing supplies
  • Sterile dressing supplies
  • Bandages, including elastic and adhesive, and tape
  • Trays, (disposable or re-usable)
  • Solutions and ointments (not covered by the Drug Plan)
  • Medication administration supplies
  • Needles, syringes, swabs
  • Intravenous therapy supplies
  • Hydration solutions: Normal saline, 2/3 & 1/3 D5W
  • Mini-bags, tubing cathlons, syringes, needles, heparin locks and caps
  • Urinary catheter care supplies
  • Urinary catheter equipment, including drainage tubing, drainage bags, connectors, leg bag drainage set
  • Catheterization tray
  • Disposable gloves (non-sterile)
  • Incontinence supplies
  • Incontinence briefs and pads
  • Condom drainage sets
  • Disposable gloves (non-sterile)

Items not covered are:

  • Ongoing diabetic supplies (Pharmacare already covers)
  • Ostomy supplies (Pharmacare already covers)
  • Wound care supplies requiring a prescription (see Palliative Drug Plan)

Medical Equipment

Palliative Care Health authorities are required to establish mechanisms whereby appropriate equipment is made available to eligible palliative clients at no charge to the client. Eligible equipment includes:

  • Hypodermoclysis equipment
  • Computerized ambulatory drug delivery (CADD) pump equipment, including cassettes, and other approved pain control delivery technologies
  • Alternating/oscillating mattresses, bed cradles
  • Mechanical lift
  • Commodes, transfer boards, bath seats, bath poles, wheelchair shower chair
  • Urinals, bed pans, kidney basins
  • Walkers, canes, crutches, standard wheelchairs
  • Hospital beds (where necessary)

For complete details please contact the home and community care office of the local health authority or the Ministry of Health Services Information Line at 1-800-465-4911.


Volunteer Program

Our volunteers provide support in many ways to patients and families. Some of the many services we provide are:

  • Pet therapy
  • Music program
  • Massage therapy