A group of local residents believes St. Albert needs more palliative care options so it’s forming a committee to do something about it.
There are currently no palliative care options in St. Albert except for one bed in the Youville Home. An upcoming meeting is intended to form a permanent committee with a clear purpose.
“To provide palliative care for St. Albert and surrounding area,” said organizer John Luth, a pastor at Christian Reformed Church. “We’re very confident in saying that this is a need in the community.”
There are no palliative care options in the surrounding area either, added fellow organizer Jack Dalmaijer. He said there is a need for palliative care across the greater capital region, particularly in the north end.
Currently, those needing palliative care who come from St. Albert, Sturgeon County, Morinville or surrounding area must go to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, or possibly the Edmonton General hospital.
A meeting scheduled for Oct. 10 at the Royal Canadian Legion will be to examine the lack of palliative care in and around this community, and what the community is willing to do about it, Dalmaijer said.
He said there are serious questions that need to be examined, such as what kind of facility does St. Albert and area need and are there people willing to step up and sit on a steering committee? Dalmaijer said it would be nice to see people from across the entire community step up.
The town hall-style meeting will also feature some local people who’ve experienced the emotional demand of having loved ones in palliative care outside the community.
Two other churches, Next Community Church and St. Albert United, have also been active in organizing this meeting noted Luth.
It’s too soon to say whether St. Albert will get a new palliative care facility, Dalmaijer said.
Luth said there seems to be a lot of interest in this topic.
“There’s been kind of an overwhelming sense of yes, we need to do something,” he said.
There will also be a discussion of the possible steering committee’s members and their roles.
The meeting will be held at the Legion Hall located at 6 Taché St. It begins at 7:30 p.m.
