End-of-Life Care & Hospice

End of life and hospice Island Health

Hospice palliative care, also called end-of-life care, includes a range of services for dying people of all ages, including children, and their families. Quality End-of-Life care supports palliative clients, their families and caregivers before, during and after death, and addresses aspects of the illness and death experience that are:

  • physical
  • emotional
  • spiritual
  • psychological
  • practical

Our focus is on comfort rather than curing an illness, to give people the best possible quality of life.  

Access

You can access Island Health Hospice Palliative Care services through two sources:

  • your primary care health professional, such as your family doctor or nurse practitioner
  • a Home and Community Care health professional

For palliative care units in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Saanich Peninsula, your family doctor, nurse practitioner or Home Care Nurse will coordinate admission.

For services and support at home, our Home and Community Care team will coordinate access.

Contact your family doctor, your Nurse Practitioner, or your local Community Health Office for more information or for a referral.

For access to services provided by Hospice Societies please contact the local Hospice Societyin your area.

Costs

There are no fees for publicly subsidized Community Health Services for palliative clients in the last six months of life.  However, charges do apply for publicly subsidized inpatient hospice and respite care. These charges are based on the minimum residential care rates and are set by the provincial government.  For more information, click here

Additionally, the BC Palliative Care Benefits Program supports individuals of any age in the last six months of life who wish to receive palliative care at home. Under the program, eligible clients receive:

  • coverage of medications used in palliative care through PharmaCare’s BC Palliative Care Drug Plan
  • medical supplies and equipment

For more information, check with your physician, Hospice Society, Home Care Nurse or visit this link: BC Palliative Care Benefits Program.

Hospice Support Society

Ten Hospice Societies and two other groups in communities across the Island Health region offer a variety of palliative and bereavement programs and support services for patients and families. For more information on the programs and services offered please click on the links below or contact the society directly:

Southern Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands

Central Vancouver Island

Northern Vancouver Island

The Vancouver Island Federation of Hospice Societies is comprised of all the hospice societies on Vancouver Island.


Information and Resources

Glossary

An End-of-Life Care Glossary is available on the Victoria Hospice website.

Fact Sheet

End of Life Care and Hospice Beds FAQ 

Multimedia Resources

Canadian Virtual Hospice Palliative Care Video (7:19min)
This You Tube video explains how the Virtual Hospice supports Canadians

Information for Caregivers

As Death Approaches: Advice & Comfort Measures for Caregivers
Food & Fluids at the End of Life 
Spiritual Care Services Brochure 
Caring for a CADD Infusion Pump at Home
Opioids for Symptom Control in Palliative Care 

Health Professional Resources

Who's Who in Palliative Care

Hospice Societies

Compassionate Care Benefits

Education


Links

Links of interest

Other relevant websites

Hospice palliative care, also called end-of-life care, includes a range of services for dying people of all ages, including children, and their families.

Medical assistance in dying is legal in Canada. It’s important to know and understand all the health care options available to you.