There comes a time for all of us when someone we know is facing a terminal illness. This might be cancer, but it could also be other types of illnesses such as, but not limited to, ALS, cardiac disease or respiratory disease. Suddenly, we find ourselves in a different chapter in our lives. Our focus becomes one of helping to address the needs and wishes of the patient, our friend or our family.
So many questions come up! There are fears of the unknown and longings for comfort, compassion, care, support and dignity. What can we hope for? What do the words "palliative care" mean to a patient, family or community? And so the journey begins. In addition to the excellent health-care teams in Sundre, where else can we go to find support?
In conjunction with the national palliative care week of May 7-13, this article aims to offer an outline of what the Sundre Palliative Care Association can provide for those people in Sundre and surrounding community who are faced with having to prepare for and manage the last part of life.
The Sundre Palliative Care Association sees itself as a hub for the entire community. Its mission is "to establish a coordinated system of palliative care between professionals, volunteers and community members."
What does this mean for Sundre? The physicians, their clinic staff and the hospital services comprise a significant part of the palliative care that is visible to the community. There are also beneficial resources that might not be as visible. There is a palliative care nurse specialist, Deana McNeish, who is available to provide support, resources, and facilitate care for those in hospital as well as those at home. She can provide support very early in the journey, which has many advantages.
Home care in Sundre can provide support and caregivers to help people stay at home as long as possible, even to the last days. Volunteers are available to visit patients in their homes, as well as in hospital, and to provide support and companionship when needed. More resources in Sundre include specialists in mental health and spiritual resources, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, and pharmacists.
In addition to helping to provide resources, part of the mission of the Sundre Palliative Care Association is to help build volunteers and assist professionals with educational opportunities. The association also serves as a fundraising arm to help address palliative needs in the Sundre community. For example, the association was responsible for recent renovations to the palliative care room, developing and maintaining the garden area as well as supporting the family room at the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre.
Palliative care is not a specific treatment, but instead a culture that enables a community to work together to provide comfort, care, support, and even hope for a good journey in the face of impending death.
The ideal situation would see patients and their families facing their diagnosis with a team of professionals and volunteers trained and prepared to help them through their final days.
We are reminded during national palliative care week that the Sundre Palliative Care Association will be there for those in need, working as a part of the team providing comprehensive palliative care for patients and support for their families.
