Re: Hospice house calls, (St. Albert Gazette, Sept. 25, 2018). I wanted to add a note to your story about the palliative supports available in the community through Alberta Health Services (AHS) in addition to the good work being done by the St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Association (SASHA). The AHS Home Care program provides case management, health, clinical, personal care and support services to palliative and end of life clients and their families.
The AHS Home Care Volunteer Program typically does not support palliative clients due to the resources that were required to provide specialized training. In the past, there was not a high demand for these types of volunteers in the program, and thus it was a challenge to maintain and sustain those volunteers.
The Home Care program sees the value in community organizations, such as SASHA, developing a Compassionate Care Volunteer Program that is focused on supporting people living with a palliative diagnosis and at the end of their life. This is something that can have a significant impact on a person’s overall quality of life. It is a beautiful example of how community organizations can work in collaboration with the health system to holistically meet a person’s needs.
Jane Newman, program manager, Home Living Program, Continuing Care,
Edmonton Zone, Alberta Health Services
