Workers at Hospice Halifax prioritize comfort, dignity, and the personal journey at life’s end. However, in Nova Scotia, a scarcity of specialized hospice beds makes a peaceful passing a luxury rather than a certainty. Claire Prashad, the nurse manager at the hospice, emphasizes the urgent need for more specialized end-of-life care.
Prashad highlights that there should be seven hospice beds for every 100,000 people, a target Nova Scotia falls short of achieving. Currently, there are only 30 hospice beds in the entire province, with 10 each in Halifax, the Annapolis Valley, and Cape Breton. Prashad stresses that Nova Scotia requires up to 80 beds in total to meet recognized standards, with up to 30 needed in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The hospice faces the challenging task of managing its 10 beds while around 30 to 35 individuals wait for care at any given time. Prashad describes the situation as heart-wrenching, noting that for every person admitted, two others are turned away. The Department of Health and Wellness has announced a review of hospice care province-wide, including the addition of five new hospice beds at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg under the supervision of a newly appointed medical director.
Responding to inquiries about the shortage, Health Minister Michelle Thompson mentioned the availability of 40 single palliative care beds as an alternative. She highlighted the various ways end-of-life care can be delivered, including in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or community settings. Thompson acknowledged the need for improvements in the system and pledged ongoing efforts to address the issue.
Prashad’s experience underscores a gap between general palliative care settings and the specialized hospice approach. She collaborates with community nurses and hospital units to assess needs, aiming to prevent deaths in emergency rooms or during ambulance transfers. Prashad emphasizes that hospice care offers a homely environment, unlike a hospital-based palliative care unit within an institutional setting.
The hospice’s small team of 14 staff members are trained in presence and active listening, supporting each other through reflective sessions and memory books documenting the stories of deceased patients. Prashad reflects on the shift in perspective from seeking a cure to focusing on comfort, which she finds equally impactful.
Despite its grassroots origins and community support, the hospice still requires government funding to sustain its operations, according to Prashad. She encourages the public to engage with their Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to raise awareness of the need for hospice services in their communities, emphasizing advocacy efforts by those informed about the situation.
Valley Hospice in Kentville operates on a distinct financial model compared to its Halifax counterpart, with 10 patient beds constructed by the Valley Hospice Foundation and now owned and managed by Nova Scotia Health. Gerry Morey, the foundation’s chair, explained that the primary funding for Valley Hospice comes from the province, with supplementary support from the foundation. Since opening in September 2020, the hospice has experienced a steady rise in occupancy, currently exceeding 80%.
For those fortunate to secure a hospice bed, the experience proves transformative. The individualized care model caters to each person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, incorporating services like music therapy, pet visits, and fulfilling final wishes. Kaitlin Cantrell, the social work coordinator at Hospice Halifax, highlights how personalized care plans relieve families from caregiving responsibilities, enabling them to be present as family members rather than caregivers.
The hospice setting offers a profound impact on both patients and their families, providing a supportive environment tailored to their unique needs.
