Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is hospice palliative care?
Hospice or palliative care is a special kind of care designed to provide comfort and relief of suffering for people who live with, or are dying from, a life threatening illness. It enables them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness. Hospice care also embraces families and friends by supporting them through the illness and into bereavement.The word “hospice” may also refer to a place of care.
For information about our palliative care services, please visit our Programs – Hospice Palliative Care section.
2. What is bereavement care?
Bereavement is another word for grief and the Society’s bereavement services provide support for family members and friends as they work through their emotions and grief regarding the death of their loved one.
Bereavement support is an important part of palliative care which may sometimes begin even before the death of the family member. The support needed while dealing with a loss may be very different for every individual and can change over time.
For information about our grief support services, please visit our Programs – Bereavement Support section.
3. What does the Burnaby Hospice Society do?
Burnaby Hospice Society is a charitable not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care to individuals and families during the end-of-life journey and to educating the community about dying and bereavement.
Our trained hospice palliative care volunteers offer emotional, social and practical support to people with life threatening illnesses and to their loved ones. They are a part of a care-giving team and can visit in homes, hospitals or long term care facilities. Besides providing emotional social support to terminally ill individuals and their families and friends, additional services offered include vigil support, complementary therapies and practical support such as letter writing and small errands.
The Society also offers ongoing individual and family grief counselling (up to 12 sessions) as well as a regular 8-week grief support group which is offered 3 times a year. Other bereavement services include a weekly volunteer-run grief support walking group and 3 community memorial services a year.
4. How does Burnaby Hospice Society impact our community?
For over 25 years, Burnaby Hospice Society has provided quality end of life care and bereavement support to thousands of people living in Burnaby and the surrounding area.
5. Do I qualify for Burnaby Hospice Society services or programs?
If you have recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, are providing care for someone with a terminal illness, or have lost a loved one within the last year, you qualify for our programs and services.
6. How do I access the Society’s programs and services for myself or a loved one?
There are many ways you can be referred to us. A health care professional, a caregiver, a family member or you can call our office to inquire about our services and speak to one of our program coordinators to assist you identify what is needed in helping you to improve your quality of life.
NOTE: We recommend that if you are calling on behalf of a loved one, you discuss your intentions with them prior to contacting our office.
7. Is there a cost?
All our services to patients and their families are free of charge. However, the Burnaby Hospice Society is a registered charity which is dependent on voluntary funding to maintain its vital services.
Any donation in lieu of payment for services, large or small, is appreciated and helps us to sustain our programs.
8. Does the Burnaby Hospice Society provide services just for cancer patients?
Individuals and families living with any life-threatening illness may benefit from palliative care. Many people who receive palliative care have cancer but it can also help those living with advanced heart, respiratory and kidney disease, Alzheimer Disease, AIDS, ALS and multiple sclerosis.
9. How does Burnaby Hospice Society work with other health services?
When a person living in the Burnaby community is diagnosed with an illness that may take his/her life, they are referred to the local Hospice Palliative Care Program. This program has an interdisciplinary team that provides clinical skills to address pain and symptom management issues in an environment sensitive to the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the patients and their families. The Burnaby Hospice Society is an integral member of this team.
10. Where do I go for services?
While our trained hospice palliative care volunteers operate predominantly out of St. Michael’s Hospice Centre and the palliative care ward at Burnaby Hospital, they are a part of a care-giving team who can visit in homes, hospitals or long term care facilities.
Our clinical counselling services and grief support groups are offered at the Society’s office at 6855 Kingsway, Burnaby.