Workers at Hospice Halifax prioritize comfort, dignity, and the personal journey at the end of life. However, in Nova Scotia, a scarcity of specialized hospice beds means that a peaceful death is not assured but rather a privilege.
Claire Prashad, the nurse manager at the hospice, emphasizes the urgent need for increased specialized end-of-life care. She highlights that there should be seven hospice beds for every 100,000 people, a benchmark Nova Scotia falls short of. Currently, the province only has a total of 30 hospice beds, distributed with 10 in Halifax, 10 in the Annapolis Valley, and 10 in Cape Breton.
To align with recognized standards, Nova Scotia would require up to 80 beds in total, with Halifax Regional Municipality needing up to 30. Prashad faces the challenge of managing the 10 existing beds while around 30 to 35 individuals are on a waiting list for care.
The Department of Health and Wellness is reviewing hospice care province-wide and plans to appoint a medical director to oversee the gradual expansion of services at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg, including the addition of five new hospice beds.
Health Minister Michelle Thompson acknowledges the shortage and mentions that the province offers 40 single palliative care beds as an alternative. She emphasizes that end-of-life care can be provided in various settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, or community environments.
Prashad highlights the distinctive approach of hospice care, which focuses on a home-like setting rather than the institutional environment of hospital palliative care units. She collaborates with community nurses and hospital units to assess needs and aims to prevent deaths in emergency rooms or ambulances.
Hospice Halifax, which operates with a small team of 14 staff members, emphasizes training in presence and listening. The hospice relies on community support and donations but also requires government funding to sustain its operations.
Valley Hospice in Kentville, like its Halifax counterpart, provides personalized care tailored to each patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The hospice model offers services such as music therapy, pet visits, and fulfilling final wishes.
Kaitlin Cantrell, the social work coordinator at Hospice Halifax, underscores the relief hospice care brings to families by allowing them to focus on being family members rather than caregivers. The unique care plans at hospices aim to meet individual patient needs and provide a supportive environment for both patients and their families.
The Valley Hospice Foundation chair, Gerry Morey, mentions that Valley Hospice operates on a financial model different from the Halifax hospice. The foundation primarily relies on provincial funding, with the foundation providing additional financial support.
Both Hospice Halifax and Valley Hospice aim to offer compassionate end-of-life care that positively impacts individuals and their families, providing a supportive and comforting environment during a challenging time.