Your parent's health is deteriorating? Treatments for his illness no longer relieving his symptoms and no other treatment is available? It may be time to think about residences offering palliative care. Pain reduction, support and care, these residences have a team of health professionals on site who can provide comfort and relief to patients suffering from chronic diseases, including massage therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
Here is an article that will answer your questions about palliative care, in order to better support a loved one at the end of life.
What is palliative care?
To better understand what palliative care is, here is a definition from the government : “Palliative care means all the treatment and care given to patients suffering from a terminal illness. Without delaying or hastening death, palliative care aims at giving patients and those close to them the best possible quality of life and providing them with the support they need. Palliative care is organized and provided through the collaborative efforts of a care team to which patients and those close to them contribute. ”
The goals of palliative care are:
- Provide symptom and pain relief
- Offer support to caregivers
- Care and support services
Among the services offered to palliative care residents, we find:
- Professional services (e.g. occupational therapist, massage therapist, nutritionist, respiratory therapy, etc.)
- Medical care
- Respite for caregivers
- Hygiene and comfort care
When does entry into palliative care start?
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada specifies that "when a chronic disease progresses to the point where no other treatment is available, end-of-life (palliative) care may be an appropriate option." These are mainly patients who are terminally ill.
Palliative care at home or in an institution?
Various care settings are available to patients at the end of their life: at home or in an establishment (residence, palliative care home or hospital). Among these choices, which one to choose? Here is a table summarizing particularities to take into account, according to your own situation and your needs, before taking a final decision.
| Home | Establishment |
Particularities |
|
|
Find a residence for seniors offering palliative care in Quebec
Residences with palliative care in Montreal
Residences with palliative care in Laval
Residences with palliative care in the Laurentians
Residences with palliative care in Lanaudière
Residences with palliative care in Chaudière-Appalaches
Residences with palliative care in Quebec
Residences with palliative care in Mauricie
Residences with palliative care in Montérégie
Residences with palliative care in Estrie
Residences with palliative care in Center-du-Québec
Residences with palliative care in Outaouais
Residences with palliative care in Bas-Saint-Laurent
Residences with palliative care in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Residences with palliative care in Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Resource Directory - Palliative Care
- Canadian Virtual Hospice - Information and support for advanced illness and palliative care
- Speak Up- Interactive Advance Care Planning Tool That Reflects Your Wills
- Association québécoise de soins palliatifs - Suggested Reading About Grief
- Bonjour Résidences - Free support for finding a residence with palliative care ( click here to fill out an accommodation request form )
- Government of Quebec - Fact sheet on bereavement in the context of a COVID-19 pandemic
- Université de Montréal - Guide for bereaved people during a pandemic
- Palli-Science - Books, presentations, tools and videos for patients and caregivers