By the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
With the seasonal surge of respiratory illnesses sweeping the nation, Rotary Flames House temporarily paused its services, discharged all respite patients, and redeployed staff to the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
At Hospice Halifax, Oscar the cat visits regularly on his own – delighting staff and residents alike.
76-year-old Cheryl Behan, a retired nurse from Orillia and Mariposa House Hospice volunteer, earned the Ontario Medial Association’s Community Service Award for her incredible career supporting her community – which included joining the Mariposa House Hospice COVID team during the pandemic.
Newfoundland and Labrador has Canada’s oldest population, and combined with a shortage of workers, the burden of care falls disproportionately on family members. The emotional, psychological, and financial toll this takes can be difficult to manage for many in the province.
A Saskatchewan family decided to honour their son’s life with a blanket drive. The blankets will be donated to the Pasqua Hospital in Regina, where their son Kenton spent his final days in their palliative care unit. The family hopes that the blankets help keep the hospice patients and their families a little warmer this holiday season.
Hospices across the country – in London, Collingwood, Vancouver, Penticton, Orillia, Halifax and Niagara among others – have been bringing their communities together to honour their passed loved ones by ‘lighting up the night’.
Hospice Quinte highlight the unique needs and challenges that men face as they become caregivers and the services available in Quinte through their Caregiver Companionship and Caregiver Supportive Counselling services.
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