No. PCSBV supports are offered barrier-free, including financially. As a charitable society, PCSBV receives its funding through donations, fundraising events, and grants.

No. The palliative approach to care is designed to support individuals (and their family caregivers) who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting (incurable) illness, at any stage in the prognosis. Palliative care is focused on quality of life rather than disease curing. Many people receiving palliative care live for many years, even decades, after their diagnosis.

Never. You will, however, learn to live with and move forward in a healthy way with the sorrow of your loss. Grief changes us - forever. PCSBV grief supports mentor you in learning to be with sorrow in a way that is transformative.

Our palliative and grief supports may be accessed by contacting us directly or by referral through your doctor, Home Care, or another health care provider.

Contact us and let us know about your interest in PCSBV. We welcome new volunteers interested in a variety of roles, from direct client care to admin support and special event coordination. Click the green volunteer button at the top of the page or phone / email PSCBV for more information.

Palliative care is a special kind of health care for individuals and families who are living with a lifechanging illness that is usually at an advanced stage.

The goal is to provide comfort and dignity for the person living with the illness as well as the best quality of life for both the patient and their family.

An important objective is the relief of pain and other symptoms.

Palliative care meets not only the physical needs but also the psychological, social, cultural, emotional, and spiritual needs of each person and family.

In Canada, both hospice care and palliative care are used to refer to the same thing, however, some people use hospice care to describe care that is offered in the community rather than in hospitals.*

*Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

Hospice palliative care helps people who are terminally ill live out their remaining time in comfort and dignity. It is helpful not only when a person is approaching death, but also at earlier stages of an illness.

It can also help families meet the challenges they face when a loved one’s illness cannot be cured.

Click HERE to access the PCSBV video library

An integrated palliative approach makes key aspects of palliative care available to individuals and families during a life changing illness, and in all care settings.

When people have access to hospice palliative care services integrated with their other care, they report fewer symptoms, a better quality of life, and greater satisfaction with their care.

The health care system reports more appropriate referrals, better use of hospice care, fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and less use of ineffective, intensive interventions in the last days of life.

When those are faced with a life changing illness diagnosis a transition of thinking occurs.

Many reflect on the change of thinking to “somebody who might die” to “someone who will die.” This transition has many stages and is difficult no matter what age or the nature of the illness.

Palliative care is introduced early when the diagnosis of a lifechanging illness is made and treatment to modify the original illness is often provided hand-in-hand with palliative care. Hospice palliative care steps in to provide comfort and the opportunity to live life to the fullest in our final days. Bereavement, which is the grief support provided to loved ones, is also provided after death.

Hospice palliative care can be delivered in many care settings, including the place you call home. The settings may include your own home, a seniors residence, the emergency department or cute care unit of your local hospital, or long-term care.

You and your family will decide which is the best place is for you to receive your care. It will change over time, depending on your circumstances.

PCSBV provides many programs and services to help in a hospice palliative care setting. To learn more visit our Programs web page.