Palliative Care is intended to comfort and support individuals and families who are living with or dying from a life-threatening illness, or who are bereaved. The goal of palliative care is to offer comfort and dignity for the person living with the illness as well as the best quality of life for both this person and their family.

The South Shore Health Palliative Care Service provides care and support for patients and their families through a holistic care concept that considers the patient’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Core Services

• Pain and symptom management
• Social, emotional and spiritual support
• Caregiver support
• Bereavement support
• Volunteer services
• Equipment loans and resource materials
• Education program/public awareness

Palliative care is provided by a team, which includes registered nurses, a social worker, a physician and trained volunteers who work together with the family doctor and other health care professionals, community agencies and clergy.  

There are palliative care offices at South Shore Regional, Fishermen’s Memorial and Queens General Hospitals. The Palliative Care Manager can be reached at 634-7369 0r 354-3436 Monday through Friday during regular working hours.

There is no fee for this service.

Referral Process

Consultation referrals, for the registered nurses, social worker and volunteers, can be made by anyone, including the individual needing the service, a family member, pastor or health care provider. However, the individual being referred must give permission before the referral is made. 

Referrals to the palliative care physician are made using the physician referral consultation process.

Once referred, a palliative care nurse will complete a needs assessment for the patient and family. As required, assistance may be provided with pain and symptom management, as well as psychological, social and spiritual support through ongoing contact and referrals to other community agencies and health professionals. When preparing for a death at home, members of the palliative care team are also able to offer assistance in arranging Do Not Resuscitate Orders, equipment loans and offering care instructions. A volunteer may be arranged to provide respite and emotional support.

Where practical, the same palliative care nurse follows the patient and family and provides bereavement care for the family following the death of their loved one. Books, videos and pamphlets are available for both children and adults. An Adult Grief Support Group is also available.

Volunteer Services

There are currently more than 20 palliative care volunteers associated with the South Shore Health Palliative Care Service. These volunteers visit clients in hospital and in the community providing respite and psychological support.

Volunteers complete a 10-week training program, which is offered each year and are supported, through donated funds, to attend local, regional and provincial educational programs. Ongoing education and support is also provided at group meetings, which are held every six weeks.

Palliative Care Advisory Committee

The program has a well-established, multi-disciplinary advisory committee with representatives from Pharmacy, Dietary, Clergy, Social Work, VON, Home Support Agencies, Long Term Care, Volunteers, Nurses and Physicians, which meets five times a year.

  “Life is a journey that is homeward bound”

~Herman Melville