A Broad Range of Services for End-of-Life Care

What does this mean? In our view, it means offering services that care for more than the physical illness that is causing the death. It is offering care for all aspects of the human being, and not just those needs of the dying, but also care for the needs of their families.

Basic services may be offered by those outside of the specialized area of EOL care whereas advanced services are those provided only by those with specialization in EOL care. These services include but are not limited to:

• Care Co-ordinator
• Formal homecare services and equipment.
• Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) where necessary.
• Appropriate pharmaceutical management, including timely assessment of pain and other symptoms.
• Sufficient financial support to both the patient and those family members providing care
• Availability of respite care when needed. This care should be available on an emergency or a planned basis. It should be time limited.
• Day support programs when the patient is able.
• Spiritual care via pastoral services where appropriate or other spiritual advisor or helper.
• Attendance to psychosocial needs of the patient and their family - counselling services when needed; timely and accurate information communicated to family, regarding the health status of their loved one; help to ensure, that as informal caregivers, they are doing the best job possible and acknowledgement for their contribution; cultural needs etc.
• Bereavement help for grieving family members - follow-up care.
• Available EOL specialist support on an emergency consultation basis.
• Information service - 24/7
• Alternative/Complementary services such as Rieki, massage therapy, touch therapy, homeopathic care, and any other service indicated and legitimatelyrequested with regard to age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.

This continuum of basic and advance care services will require a committment of federal dollars as well as a local committment to providing appropriate, compassionate EOL care. It is our duty to provide what is necessary for this care model to succeed.