In recognition of National Hospice Palliative Care Week (May 4–10)1, Life and Death Matters celebrates the extraordinary work of Personal Support Workers (PSW’s), nurses, and healthcare teams who deliver compassionate hospice, palliative and end-of-life care and integrate a palliative care approach in all care settings. This week offers an opportunity to honour their contributions and reflect on the importance of hospice palliative care in the lives of individuals, families, and communities across Canada.
Introduction
National Hospice Palliative Care Week shines a light on the essential role hospice and palliative care play in promoting dignity, comfort, and quality of life for people living with serious life-limiting illnesses. It also honours the caregivers, educators, and advocates who dedicate themselves to providing this wonderful person-centred care.
This year’s theme1, “The What, When, and Where of Palliative Care,” encourages Canadians to better understand what palliative care is, when it can be accessed, and where it can be provided – at home, in hospices, in hospitals, in long-term care settings and in any community care homes.
At Life and Death Matters, we are proud to support hospice palliative care education and to celebrate those who provide compassionate care at the bedside, in the classroom, and across our communities.
Why Hospice Palliative Care Matters
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) defines hospice palliative care as2:
“Hospice palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of living and dying. It strives to help individuals and families address physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and practical issues, prepare for and manage self-determined life closure and the dying process, and cope with loss and grief during illness and bereavement.”
Hospice palliative care also aims to:
- Treat all active issues
- Prevent new issues from occurring
- Promote opportunities for meaningful experiences, personal and spiritual growth, and self-actualization.
Hospice palliative care is appropriate for any person and family living with a life-limiting illness, regardless of age, diagnosis, or prognosis, whenever there are unmet expectations and needs, and the person is prepared to accept care.
An important focus is the early integration of a palliative approach – the incorporation of palliative care principles and practices early in the disease process for individuals with any life-limiting illness, across all care settings. Early integration helps ensure that care is proactive, person-centred, and supports quality of life throughout the illness journey.
Care that is person-centred and holistic reduces suffering, fosters dignity, and ensures that people live as fully as possible until death.
As one nurse reflected3:
“Giving people choice is one of the biggest ways in such a very small, minute way that we can really recognize and acknowledge somebody’s personhood. And I think we have such an opportunity and it’s really such a gift to watch people step into who they are, even through the illness journey”.
Voices from the Frontline: The Heart of Hospice Palliative Care
Emotional Rewards
Those who work in hospice palliative care often describe it as a calling – driven by compassion, purpose, and a deep understanding of the impact small moments can have. The emotional rewards are profound, even amidst the challenges.
One nurse says3:
“I think every day, anybody who works in healthcare, we get these little opportunities or little gifts along the way to be able to do those little things that make such a profound difference in somebody’s life…”
This sentiment reflects the power of palliative care, where even the smallest act of kindness can provide comfort during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
Teamwork is the Foundation of Quality Care
Palliative care thrives on collaboration – between the person, their families, interdisciplinary teams, and communities. Seamless, compassionate care depends on the expertise and perspectives of multiple professionals working together with a shared mission.
One nurse captures this perfectly3:
“Doing excellent palliative care requires a team. It’s a team sport. It requires all of the members of the team to come together and shine the light on the person from their own lens and their own scope of practice.”
This highlights the importance of teamwork, recognizing that true excellence in care comes from unity, communication, and shared understanding.
Challenges and Growth, Humility and Learning
Providing palliative care requires resilience and empathy, but it also offers opportunities for personal and professional growth. Those working in this field carry the emotional weight of their role, yet they also gain wisdom, perspective, and a deep appreciation for the human experience.
One nurse explains this beautifully3:
“I think there’s a certain level of humility that we need to have. I have expertise in palliative care. … I’m an expert in caring for people who are dying, but I haven’t done it yet. … And I think that it’s a really great opportunity for us to really be humbled by the fact that we may be the care provider, but the person is the one who’s going through this and we have lots to learn from them.”
This sentiment outlines the humility caregivers needs and highlights how much they learn from those they support.
The Heartfelt Impact of PSWs
Personal Support Workers (PSW’s) play an invaluable role in enhancing residents’ daily lives, offering not just essential care but also companionship, connection, and reassurance. Their words reflect their dedication4:
“I look forward to the joy on the residents’ faces. I always look forward to seeing them whenever I go to work.”
“I love making a difference to residents.”
“I enjoy helping residents with their needs and making them feel comfortable.”
“I love hearing residents’ stories and interacting with them.”
“I love making a positive impact and taking on new challenges.”
These heartfelt testimonials showcase the emotional connection between PSW’s and the residents they support, reinforcing the power of meaningful interactions and trusted relationships.
At its core, hospice palliative care is rooted in connection, compassion, and shared humanity. These voices from the frontline remind us that behind every act of care lies a powerful story – one of perseverance, empathy, and unwavering dedication.
Educating for Compassionate Care
Education is crucial in preparing PSW’s, nurses, and healthcare teams to provide excellent hospice palliative care. Training helps caregivers understand not only the physical needs of people with serious illnesses but also the emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of care.
At Life and Death Matters, we support foundational and ongoing learning through:
- Textbooks and e-resources
- Scenario-based learning activities
- Care Planning Cookies to spark values-based care planning discussions
- Online education PACE for PSWs
Educators play a critical role in fostering compassionate care competencies in their students, ensuring the future of hospice palliative care remains strong. We are honoured to work with educators, and strive to support them by providing great resources, in addition to supporting them in feeling comfortable and competent in teaching how students how to integrate a palliative approach.
We love to hear educators express their delight in teaching with our resources. Here’s some of what they have to say:
“I was not looking forward to teaching this section of the PSW program, but the resources helped me to teach and talk with the students. I love teaching this material now.”
“I love what Kath and the team at Life and Death Matters has pulled together and the students do as well.”
“Using the LDM materials has taught not only my students, but me about important principles in palliative care.”
“Teaching this subject can be daunting, but LDM resources made the experience easier.”
Advocating for Awareness and Access
Despite its benefits, hospice and palliative care are still not accessible to everyone who needs it. Greater access is needed across Canada, not only within specialist programs, but also in hospitals, long-term care homes, and through outreach to underserved populations, including people experiencing homelessness and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Integrating a palliative approach across all care settings ensures that no one is left behind.
Healthcare providers and educators have a crucial role to play in advocating for change. By raising public awareness, promoting equity in access to services, and supporting system-wide improvements, they help ensure that hospice palliative care reaches everyone who needs it. Advocacy efforts must focus on embedding a palliative approach into every sector of healthcare – from acute care to community programs – so that compassionate, person-centred care becomes a standard part of life’s journey for all Canadians.
Get involved
This National Hospice Palliative Care Week, we invite you to:
- Celebrate the caregivers making a difference.
- Share stories of compassion and dignity from your own experiences.
- Thank a caregiver or healthcare worker who has made an impact.
- Start a conversation about Advance Care Planning with your family, friends, or care team.
- Advocate for equitable access to palliative care services in all care settings.
- Raise awareness by sharing information and resources in your community or on social media.
Learn more about National Hospice Palliative Care Week and how you can get involved: https://www.chpca.ca/awareness/national-hospice-palliative-care-week/
Life and Death Matters is proud to introduce Palliative Talks – a new podcast series hosted by our founder, Kath Murray. Tune in to hear heartfelt conversations with palliative care leaders and frontline caregivers, and explore what it truly means to care for people with life limiting illnesses. Listen now.
Let’s honour the heart of hospice palliative care – this week and every week.
References
1 https://www.chpca.ca/awareness/national-hospice-palliative-care-week/
2 https://www.chpca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/norms-of-practice-eng-web.pdf
3 Mahoganie Hines, BScN, RN, MHSc, CHPCN(c), HPCO Podcast Series https://www.hpco.ca/palliative_talks/
4 PSW’s from Perley Health, Ontario, https://www.perleyhealth.ca/
