Pallative Care – Home and Public

Palliative care is a team approach aimed at improving the patient/family experience while facing life-threatening illness. Palliative care involves a holistic approach and includes the treatment, management and support for the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. It also affirms life and regards dying as a normal process intending neither to hasten nor postpone death. Patients and families are provided with a support system to help them live as actively as possible while supporting them during the bereavement process.

Palliative Care team is an interdisciplinary team consisting of but not limited to physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and clergy/spiritual leader.

Palliative and End of Life Care Services are available within the community setting, supporting patients and families in their homes. Services can also be accessed through Labrador-Grenfell Health facilities if support is required by patients and families.

Palliative Care services in the home include but are not limited to:

• A Home First philosophy of care
• Home nursing visits
• Social worker visits
• Provision of home supports under the regular home support program for clients requiring services on a long term basis

End of Life Services in the last four weeks include:

• Home nursing visits with on call nursing support in the last 24-48 hours where available
• Social worker visits
• Provision of home supports under the end of life program for the last 28 days
• Medication coverage for pain and symptom management
• Provision of supplies needed to maintain the patient at home, for e.g. oxygen, supplies to perform personnel care