Receiving palliative care services

Those enrolled in palliative care have fewer symptoms, greater emotional support, and increased individual and family satisfaction.

Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatment and care. It is meant to enhance care by focusing on quality of life.

There are a number of services and supports offered by the province and health authority. Depending on care needs, some supports may have a cost. For example Hospice has a daily rate.

BC Palliative Care Benefits Program offers funding for some medications, medical supplies and basic equipment for end-of-life care. If you have concerns about associated costs, you can speak with a community health nurse for more detailed information.

Services can be provided at home, in hospital, at a long-term care facility or in hospice. It can include grief and bereavement support, some equipment and supplies in the home and access to hospice or palliative complex care unit as appropriate.

Palliative care can support caregivers to deliver end-of-life care for a home death.

Hospices are care locations specializing in quality end-of-life care for individuals in their last three to six months of life.

Whether hospice is the location chosen for end-of-life care depends on a person’s wishes, their care needs and if they can be managed in hospice.

Advance care planning is personal planning for your health care. It can be done at any age or stage of your life and health care journey and helps prepare others if you are unable to speak for yourself. If you or someone you know has a serious illness, tips on how to talk with your loved ones, caregivers or health care team are available here: Who should I talk to and what should we talk about.