What is palliative care?
Palliative care is a specialized approach to care for people and families living with a life-limiting illness. Often their illness is at an advanced stage. The goal of a palliative approach to care is to provide comfort and dignity. This approach aims to improve quality of life for both this person and their family.
Palliative care addresses:
- physical issues;
- psychological issues;
- social issues;
- spiritual issues;
- practical issues;
- an individual's and family's expectations; and
- an individual's and family's needs, hopes and fears.
Who benefits from a palliative approach to care?
People with life-limiting illnesses benefit from a palliative approach to care. So do their families. A palliative approach to care can begin early. It may start from the time someone receives a palliative diagnosis all the way through end-of-life care. Palliative care helps those living with life-limiting diseases such as:
- cancer;
- advanced heart disease;
- respiratory disease;
- kidney disease;
- Alzheimer’s disease;
- AIDS;
- ALS; and
- multiple sclerosis.
Where is palliative care offered in the Yukon?
Palliative care is offered in a variety of places, such as:
- at home;
- in hospitals;
- in long-term care homes; and
- at Wind River Hospice House in Whitehorse.
People living with a palliative diagnosis are often cared for at home by their family and friends. Often they're also supported by health services in the community. At certain times, it may not be possible to manage care at home for a variety of reasons.
In these situations, palliative care is usually provided by health care professionals. This can happen in the hospital, in long-term care homes or at Wind River Hospice House. This includes short or longer stays in one of these settings. The length of stay often depends on the person and their family's goals of care.
No matter where they're cared for, the person and their family remain at the centre of care. This approach ensures the care they receive reflects their values, wishes and preferences.
Through education, consultation and health-system navigation, our team provides supports and resources to:
- health care providers;
- Yukoners living with a life-limiting illness;
- those who are approaching end of life;
- family members; and
- caregivers.
We’re here to:
- help you navigate the health care system to best support your needs;
- provide palliative care education to support health care professionals; and
- support care providers with:
- best practice information;
- assessment tools; and
- clinical advice.
While we do not coordinate primary care, we help care providers and link people to the right services.
We offer the following educational opportunities to health care providers:
- facilitate the delivery of formal education opportunities to heath care providers in Yukon, such as Pallium and Life and Death Matters courses.
- online modules;
- public education sessions, including sessions on advance care planning; and
- tailored sessions on request.
We offer resources to:
- health care providers;
- patients with a palliative diagnosis;
- family members; and
- caregivers.
To request a consultation with the palliative care resource team
- Fill out the Palliative care resource team consult request form.
- Submit the form.
Email: palliativecare@yukon.ca
Fax: 867-667-9332
Educational pamphlets
- Food and fluids at the end of life
- Preparing for death
- Relaxation techniques
- Children and teen grief
- Grief after suicide
- Grief: coping with challenges
- Grief: special days and holidays
- Grief: understanding your emotions
- Grief: what makes it difficult
- 10 things to know about grief
- Things to remember when supporting a grieving person
Supports and resources for Yukoners
- Palliative care clinical tools
- Palliative care framework
- Wind River Hospice House referral process
- Educational Flowcharts for Health Care Providers and Caregivers
- National palliative care competency framework
- Palliative care self-assessments by discipline
- Wind River Hospice House admission forms
- Yukon Palliative Care Resources Team (PCRT) Education Menu
Care at Wind River Hospice House
Wind River Hospice House is in located at Whistle Bend Place long-term care home in Whitehorse. It provides end-of-life care to Yukoners in a home-like setting. Care is available 24-hours a day. Wind River Hospice House has 6 beds for stays of approximately 3 months or less and 2 beds for short respite stays of 2 to 4 weeks. Find answers to frequently asked questions.
What's our philosophy of care?
Wind River Hospice House provides a safe environment that places value on quality of life and comfort. Hospice care accepts death as an inevitable part of living. This approach respects a person's right to die with grace and dignity. It neither hastens nor prolongs a person’s dying process. The goal of medical care is to provide comfort and symptom relief. Friends and family are supported to continue to take part in the care of their loved one. They're encouraged to access support for themselves as well.
Who's Wind River Hospice House for?
Wind River Hospice House provides care for:
- adults with a clearly life-limiting illness in its advanced stages;
- adults with a prognosis of 3 months or less; and
- adults with a prognosis of less than 12 months who require a brief respite care stay.
We'll consider adults with a prognosis of longer than 3 months case by case.
Who can receive respite care?
Respite care is for anyone with a palliative diagnosis and a prognosis of 12 months or less. The average length of stay is 2 to 4 weeks.
Respite care gives people's regular caregivers a break from providing that care. It's also a chance for people to get to know the staff and the Wind River Hospice House. This can be helpful if they come to the hospice house later for end-of-life care.
What is the cost?
The cost to stay at Wind River Hospice House is $40 a day.
Who can be admitted?
You can access Wind River Hospice House if you:
- are an adult (18 and over);
- are lawfully entitled to be, or remain, in Canada;
- have a valid Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan card;
- are a Yukon resident;
- have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order in place; and
- have a referral from a health care provider.
We consider people under 18 years of age case by case.
To have your care provider refer you to the hospice program:
- Fill out the Hospice referral form and the Continuing care facility or community day program referral form
- Submit the forms.
Fax: 867-667-9332
If you have questions about palliative care email palliativecare@yukon.ca, phone 867-667-9380 or fax 867-667-9332.
If you have questions about Wind River Hospice House, phone 867-667-9367 for the nurses station.
If you have questions about Whistle Bend Place, phone 867-667-9300.
Mail:
Government of Yukon
Palliative Care Resource Team (H-24)
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6