Hospice Palliative Care Services in BC: Vancouver Island

Comox Valley Hospice Society

Mailing Address:
2137 Comox Avenue
Courtenay, BC
V9M 1P2

Tel: (250) 339-5533
Fax: (250) 339-5063
[email protected]

BCHPCA Components of Care

Administration
Hospice Society Board of Director – 10 members selected; AGM in May. Funding sources – donations and fund raising.

Bereavement Care Coordinator – under the supervision of the Palliative Care Coordinator, assists with coordination and training of volunteers, as well as doing assessment and referral of bereavement clients, and developing the Bereavement Care program.  Palliative Care Coordinator – funded by hospital community partnership, manages Hospice programs, and consults with the Hospice Society Board.

Volunteer Program
Currently 50 active volunteers working directly with clients.  Nine week training course offered once a year.  Volunteer Support meeting monthly for ongoing education and peer support.

Home Program
Palliative Care Coordinator follows palliative patients in acute care, does discharge planning of palliative patients from hospital to community, and liases weekly with Home Care Nursing.

Hospital Program
Palliative Care support available in hospital, and community.  Volunteers provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and family members, give respite to family caregivers and give practical help.

Palliative Equipment Program
In conjunction with Home Health Care, volunteers deliver equipment to palliative patients in the community.

Bereavement Program
Volunteers can journey one on one with clients, and facilities grief support groups.

Current Grief Support Groups:
• Bereaved Parents
• Suicide Loss
• Teen Grief & Loss (as needed)
• Walking Grief Group
• Widow & Widower’s Group
Some groups meet monthly, others for a period of weeks.

Organization Mission Statement
The mission of the Comox Valley Hospice Society is to support and encourage Hospice Palliative Care in the Comox Valley.