This article was originally published on The Palliative Approach on October 9, 2024.
By Kelly Ashford
Big changes are afoot in Newfoundland and Labrador. In a move to enhance patient-centered care, the province’s four regional health authorities (Eastern Health, Central Health, Western Health, and Labrador-Grenfell Health) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, united in April 2023 to form Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. The newly formed health service recently welcomed Nav-CARE (Navigation: Connecting, Advocating, Resourcing, Engaging) in to its fold. Nav-CARE is a volunteer-based program that empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of their illness journey, while fostering independence and creating a sense of connection and support within their communities. This exciting new addition will complement the many other services that are offered, contributing to a more compassionate and connected healthcare environment.
We were fortunate to speak with Jennifer Penny (and Cheryl Jacobs (Regional Manager of Palliative Care Services) about the introduction of Nav-CARE.
What is your vision for Nav-CARE?
Jennifer: We often see people come to the end of their lives, and they’re really quite unprepared and perhaps weren’t aware of the resources and services available in their community that might have helped them have a better illness experience. Our vision is that Nav-CARE will bring a unique, non-medical environment to people, where they can openly explore their illness and their needs with a compassionate volunteer, who can actively listen and help them identify resources that would be of benefit as they navigate declining health. Hopefully, this will help them have a better illness experience and improve their quality of life.
Cheryl: In Newfoundland and Labrador, there is an increase in our aging population; lots of people live alone, they don’t have any supports, they live in vulnerable housing, and are on a fixed income. This is an opportunity to connect them with someone who will be able to provide support, whether that’s companionship or identifying specific resources that may be available within their community. This is going to be particularly important in remote areas because resources are not readily available, and the Nav Care volunteer would be able to help them navigate specific care needs, identifying what resources exists and how they can avail of them.
Is there anything unique about the healthcare system that will support the implementation of Nav-CARE?
Jennifer: We have robust processes for volunteer recruitment and onboarding volunteers. Our own internal orientation and training will definitely complement the Nav-CARE training.
What key relationships with other programs or care provides can you leverage to support the implementation of Nav-CARE?
Jennifer: Part of my role is the manager of the home dementia program, so we have a very close connection with the Alzheimer’s Society which will be really valuable. The other relationship [that will be important] is with our community advisory committee. They are established through our primary health care program throughout the province. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with community advisors, they can let us know what’s available in the community and they can help us to promote Nav-CARE, to identify volunteers in their community, and also people who might be able to benefit from Nav-CARE.
When you think about the work that you do, what parts of it do you wish that the public understood better?
Jennifer: My wish is that people understood that ‘palliative’ doesn’t mean you’re in your final days, and that a palliative approach to care is beneficial for anyone with a serious illness at any point along their illness trajectory, not just at the end. There’s a lot of stigma associated with the term ‘palliative.’
Cheryl: Public awareness of palliative care is crucial in receiving quality care. If we could increase the awareness that palliative care is about living the best quality of life until the end of your life. That it doesn’t mean all hope has gone. That it’s about receiving care in a timely manner. That it is possible to be palliative for many years, a few months, or a few days. That it’s about being comfortable, enjoying things that bring you joy, being able to make your choices, being informed, and passing in an environment that you choose. We’ll be working hard to convey this message.
What do you hope Nav-CARE volunteers will bring to your community?
Jennifer: The community-based approach that Nav-CARE takes is exciting. Everybody has something to contribute. It’s an exciting opportunity, both from the perspective of the client, but it will also provide really meaningful volunteer opportunities. It was interesting, I was talking to our grief and bereavement social worker, and she said ‘You know, I work with a lot of women who’ve lost their spouse, and then once they’ve sort of gone through the grief and bereavement process, they often are looking for a very meaningful volunteer opportunity. So this [Nav-CARE] might be a really nice fit’. I can see a lot of benefits to this approach.
The excitement and passion from Cheryl and Jennifer about Nav-CARE was palpable. As the newly formed Health Service finds its’ feet and Nav-CARE takes root, it has the potential to transform the way individuals facing serious illness experience their healthcare journey in the province. By combining the expertise of healthcare professionals with the empathy and dedication of trained volunteers, Nav-CARE offers a model that promotes the holistic well-being of individuals and fosters a sense of community support. As Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services embraces this innovative approach, it is poised to set the scene for compassionate and comprehensive healthcare not only in the region but for other healthcare regions across the country.
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