Our first and foremost priority, and central to our mission as a Centre of Excellence, is that our residents and their families continue to receive the best possible care and experience during their palliative journey. This journey begins at the time of the initial diagnosis of a life-limiting illness through outreach or resident therapies and care, end-of-life care and family bereavement.
Along this pathway, we will seek to meet our residents’ desires, needs and wishes for as long as possible by building or enhancing outreach programs and services that best suit their needs. While we expect the total number of people we serve to grow each year, the proportion of people who spend their last days at home versus at the Hospital will increase significantly over time. Consequently, the Hospice will provide more of its services on an outreach basis.
Recognizing the limitations in government funding for our palliative care nurses and personal support workers, enhancing the valuable role of our volunteers will become ever more critical in meeting the needs of our residential and outreach service recipients.
Goals:
- Continue to provide high-quality, compassionate and supportive care to meet the needs of the residents of Burlington in an uncompromising way
- Address the most urgent needs and gaps through our outreach programs in order to support and respect individuals and their families in their “choice” for the setting of care and goals of care (such as respite, short-stay, wellness, day-care, family caregiver support and education, family counselling and bereavement)
- Complete the upgrading and expansion of our facilities to provide a better experience in a homelike setting for our residents and support the growth of our outreach programs for our program participants
- Enhance and deepen the role and engagement of volunteers in meeting our resident, outreach and family needs