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Palliative Care

Counselling therapy can help people facing end of life care decisions. This is a challenging experience for both the person with the illness and their family members.

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The focus of palliative care is to manage pain and support one’s emotional and spiritual well being.  

The Benefits of Palliative Care

Intravenous drip.

Pain Management

Pain and other distressing symptoms are challenging to manage. Palliative care explores ways to provide relief from pain and  provide options for comfort care.

Candle, flowers, meditation items.

Spiritual Support

Tailored to the individual's beliefs and values, this aspect of care offers space to discuss meaning amidst the health crisis.

Caregiver sitting side-by-side on a hospital bed with an older woman in a nightgown.

Social, Psychological, and Emotional Support

By fostering a supportive environment, palliative care helps people navigate the complex emotions that come with loss/grief. 

Young caregiver comforting an older woman.

Caregiver Support

Recognizing the immense pressure many caregivers face, palliative care extends its support to caregivers, offering resources and a safe environment to help them cope with loss, sadness and suffering. 

Decorative flowers
Decorative leaves.

 

Therapy Approaches for Coping

 

Therapy can involve:

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  • Supporting Emotions: Noticing, affirming and allowing a range of feelings such as sadness, depression, isolation, fear, loss, loneliness, grief. Therapists can help clients to respond to their loss with self kindness and compassion. Mindfulness techniques can be offered to help clients make room for their loss and provide meaning around it.

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  • Exploring Meaningful Questions: Providing space to process "What is a good and meaningful death?" to help individuals reflect on their values and wishes.

 

 

Resources for Support

  • Dying With Dignity Canada advocates for fair access to palliative care, educates Canadians about it, identifies system gaps, and recommends improvements to ensure equitable end-of-life options. For more detailed information, visit Dying With Dignity Canada.

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  • Palliative Care Helps the Caregiver Too: Highlighting the importance of caregiver well-being, this resource offers peer support, counselling and a helpline.

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  • Finding Information and Services for Care: The Hospice Palliative Care Ontario website  serves as a comprehensive resource for finding palliative care services, information, and support, helping patients and caregivers navigate the healthcare landscape.

 

 

Palliative care offers compassionate, holistic support to those facing end of life. By focusing on the multifaceted needs of people and their families, it not only alleviates physical discomfort but also addresses the emotional, psychological, and spiritual challenges that arise as people face end of life.

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