Palliative Care to improve for Albertans

Convenant Health Palliative Insitutate will receive $5M from the province. This funding will allow the facility to increase access to palliative and end-of-life services.

The province has committed a total of $20M to be dispersed over the next three years, this $5M is the first step towards that.

Also, $1M will be given to the Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association (AHPCA) to develop in-person and online support groups, create the province’s first telephone grief support line as well as, expand workshops on palliative care.

“When Albertans are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, many do not know where to turn, or what options are available to support them and their loved ones. That’s especially the case in rural and remote areas. By raising public awareness, the Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association can help more Albertans learn how and where to access support, resources, trained professionals and kind hands who can help guide them through the stress, fear and sadness of this difficult time,” said Kristi Puchbauer, executive director, Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association.

The province decided to also eliminate co-payments for end-of-life drugs. Roughly 2700 Albertans who choose to die at home or in a hospice, personally pay for those drugs that would have been covered in the hospital.

To learn more about palliative care health and benefits click here.