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Palliative Care Program

The palliative care unit entrance

Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families (as identified by patients) who are facing a life-limiting illness. At Toronto Grace, we strive to provide compassionate and comprehensive palliative care that addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

Patients may come from home, or may be transferred from other hospitals, emergency departments and long-term care facilities.

The Palliative Care Program at Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) consists of:

  • A 19-bed inpatient palliative care unit for patients in their final months of life.
  • An inpatient palliative care consultation service.
  • Respite services.
  • A Bereavement Program.

Our Services

Palliative Care in the final months of life

The palliative care unit (PCU) provides clinical care to those individuals who are in the final months of life as a result of illnesses such as cancer, end-stage organ failure, HIV/AIDS, neurodegenerative disorders and end-stage dementia. We recognize that patients have unique needs and values and we encourage and support their full participation in decisions affecting their health and life. Our goal is to serve patients and their families through excellence in comprehensive palliative care. The care provided by the palliative care team at TGHC focuses on:

  • Assessment and management of pain and other symptoms such as nausea and breathlessness.
  • Supportive care for patients’ psychosocial and spiritual care needs.
  • Optimizing functional abilities and safety through supports from occupational therapy and/or physiotherapy.
  • Communication and decision-making with patients and their families to establish medically achievable, patient-centred goals of care.
  • Coordination of transitions of care and support across care settings.
  • Bereavement services to support important people in the lives of each patient.

Short-term admissions for Respite and/or Symptom Management

Respite Services may also be arranged at the TGHC palliative care unit for short-term admissions, generally two to four weeks. Respite services are offered for the following reasons:

  • To offer family caregivers in the home setting a reprieve from the ongoing tasks required to maintain a family member with advanced illness at home.
  • To offer patients a short-term admission for pain and symptom management with a plan to discharge back home.
  • As a short-term admission to enable sufficient support services to be established in the person’s home.

Internal Palliative Care Consultation service

Palliative care consultation services are provided to patients with serious illnesses within the TGHC on a referral basis. The role of the consultation service is to assist and support TGHC staff to ensure a quality of life for patients who have pain and symptom management needs as well as end-of-life care needs.

Bereavement Program

An important component of palliative care is bereavement care for a patient’s close friends and family. It is estimated that for every person who dies, at least five close friends and loved ones are left to grieve. The Toronto Grace developed a bereavement program in 2016 to identify and reach out to bereaved family and friends. Some important goals of the program are to help reduce feelings of isolation and loss that occur after the death of a loved one, and to lessen the difficulties caused by grief.

Toronto Grace Palliative Care Program Resource Materials

Palliative Care Respite Stay (PDF)

Palliative Care Program Brochure (PDF)

BiPaP Use on the Palliative Care Unit (PDF)

Spiritual Care Program Jan (PDF)

General Palliative Care Resources

A Family Meeting (PDF)

Eating and Drinking (PDF)

Breathing Noises (PDF)

Dealing with Pain (PDF)

Some Common Myths About Morphine… and Other Opioids (PDF)

Spiritual & Religious Care Program

TGHC’s Bereavement Program

Ten Things to Know About Grief (PDF)

Grief – What Makes It Difficult (PDF)

Grief – Understanding Your Emotions (PDF)

The Final Days and What to Expect (PDF)

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