End of life care on Vancouver Island will be enhanced with one-time funding to nine separate hospice societies located in communities throughout Vancouver Island to help support the needs of the dying and the bereaved.
The nine hospices are represented by the Vancouver Island Federation of Hospices and include the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society. Each society will receive a total of $11,700 in the 2010-11 fiscal year for a total of $105,300.
“Hospice societies work with the dying, their caregivers and the bereaved within the [Vancouver Island Health Authority] catchment area,” said Wendy Pratt, president of the Vancouver Island Federation of Hospices. “This one-time funding from VIHA will assist the hospices to serve individuals and families.”
Pratt addressed the VIHA board meeting in Oceanside earlier this week, where she outlined the valuable role that both volunteers and professionals working within hospice societies play in end-of-life care as they support individuals and families being served within existing VIHA programs.
“Patient-focused, dignified and sustainable end of life care, including hospice care, across Vancouver Island is a priority for us,” said Howard Waldner, VIHA president and CEO, in a press release.