Hospice Palliative Care Services in BC:
Vancouver Island

Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
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Mailing Address:
1729 Boundary Avenue
Nanaimo, BC
V9S 4P3

Tel: (250) 758-8857
Fax: (250) 758-8502

http://www.nanaimohospice.com

BCHPCA Components of Care

Administration
12 Member Board
Gaming, donations, United Way, Hospital partnership, minor fundraisers, accommodation service

Volunteer Program
145 Volunteers(36 hour training + 4 hrs minimum orientation to Palliative Care Unit)

Roles:
• one-on-one palliative support in home
• support for patients & family on PCU
• facilitate adult & teen grief groups
• client assessments
• office assistance
• fundraising & PR
• Board of Directors
• community awareness/education

Recognition and Support
• volunteer newsletter
• monthly meeting
• service awards

Program:
• Palliative Support in Home
• Professional Counseling (Teens/Adults)
• Palliative Care Unit
• Finding My Way: Coping With Grief
• Teens Helping Teens Get Through Grief
• Saturday Morning Walking group
• Weekly Self Care Clinic
• Healing Stitches Grief Support
• Hospice Library
• Bereavement Follow Up (1 Year)
• Telephone support
• accommodation (Family visiting PCU)

Home Program
Active, practical, compassionate support includes: respite, outings, life enhancement activities; emotional, social, psychological support; vigils

Hospital Program
Volunteer support for palliative patients and family members 8 hours daily on the 12 bed Palliative Care Unit at Nanaimo Hospital.

Spiritual Care
• Ordained interfaith minister on staff to provide support.
• Volunteers trained in spiritual care

Symptom Management
• reiki & relaxation therapies
• use of music
• comfort cushions
• advocacy for patient symptom issues

Bereavement Program
Types:
• Group programs and professional counseling for adults and teens, Weekly Walking Group, Healing Stitches, Self Care Clinic, Telephone Support, Bereavement follow up

Education and Professional Training
Volunteers: basic 36 hour training program, minimum 4 hour orientation to the palliative care unit, ongoing education provided for volunteers.

Community:
Community education/ groups, college presentations, newspaper displays

Organization Mission Statement
Nanaimo Community Hospice Society is a registered non-profit society dedicated to the provision of compassionate care and support to individuals facing end of life issues; and to the promotion of a coordinated, interdisciplinary approach to end of life and bereavement care in our community.

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