The document provides information about hospice palliative care services available through Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) in Haliburton County, Ontario. It describes the Palliative Care Community Team (PCCT) which provides at-home support, a Hospice Program with volunteers, and a new two-bed Hospice Palliative Care Suite. The PCCT aims to provide client-centered care and support clients and families from diagnosis through end of life. It coordinates care with partners like the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team, Central East Community Care Access Centre, and HHHS community support services.

1. HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE AT HHHS

2. Minden Hospital / Hyland Crest
Long-Term Care Home
Haliburton Hospital / Highland Wood
Long-Term Care Home

3. Palliative Care and Hospice
Services at HHHS:
Palliative Care Community Team (PCCT)
Hospice Program
Hospice Palliative Care Suite

4. Community Collaboration
• Hospice Manager facilitates community Palliative Rounds monthly. Invitees
include:
• CCAC staff
• FHT physicians and clinicians
• Community nursing and PSW agency staff
• Local pharmacists
• Directors of Care of all Long-Term Care (LTC) Homes in Haliburton County
• Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Coordinator (Hospice Peterborough)
• Local Bereavement Coordinator (SIRCH Community Services)
• HHHS Hospice Coordinator
• HHHS Palliative Liaison Coordinator
• Other HHHS staff from across the organization
• Hospice Manager attends LTC Home Resident and Family Council
meetings, as requested.
• Palliative Liaison Coordinator facilitates information sessions to LTC Homes
staff and acute care staff.
• Palliative Liaison Coordinatorattends Acute Care rounds weekly

5. Members of PCCT
Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team:
• Physicians provide 24 hour-7 day/week MD on-call coverage and
nursing
Central East Community Care Access Centre:
• Provides contracted services, such as Nursing and PSW support,
Nurse Practitioner, Dietician, Social Worker and Care Coordinators
Haliburton Highlands Health Services:
• Palliative and Hospice Team members / other Community Support
Services Division staff:
• Palliative Liaison Coordinator
• Hospice Coordinator
• Social Worker through the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention
Network (GAIN) program.
• Community Support Services Staff
• Provide services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, supportive
housing/assisted living, social recreation, etc.

6. Objective of PCCT
• To provide support to clients and their families once a
diagnosis of a life limiting illness has been received
• Early referral to PCCT is key and allows team to be involved
with client/family from early onset, through disease
progressions to end of life, including bereavement for the
family
• To assist and navigate client/family through the health care
system.
• Make referrals to community resources as needed and ensure
client has access to all resources
• Provide client-centred and client-specific care
• Develop a coordinated care plan for client and
family/caregivers

7. Referral Process
PCCT
Partner
Organizations
Self, Family &
Friends
Community
Services

8. Hospice Program
• 50 trained Hospice Volunteers who provide comfort and
support to clients and their families
• Volunteers provide respite, companionship and accompany
clients to medical visits as needed
• Bereavement care to families of deceased, including providing
1 on 1 support. If further support is needed a referral to grief
support groups can be made.
• HHHS provides volunteers to the community, LTC Homes,
acute care and the hospice palliative care suite
• Resource materials are available through Hospice Library and
are provided to clients, families and volunteers across all
health care sectors

9. Hospice Palliative Care Suite
• One bed located at the Haliburton Hospital Acute Care Unit.
(soon to be two beds)
• Provides a home-like setting for clients and their families,
including a kitchenette in the suite which allows families to
have coffee/tea/snacks as needed.
• No set visiting hours, families are encouraged to stay with
client as they wish. Pull-out couch available so family can rest
comfortably.
• Care provided by HHHS nursing staff, while client continues to
be followed by most responsible physician.
• Hospice Volunteers available if client/family wish. Volunteer
can provide respite for caregivers, emotional support and
overnight care.

10. A Letter to the Editor*
Palliative Care Team working well
August 25, 2015 · 0 Comments
To the Editor,
My wife Yvonne chose palliative care to deal with her recent cancer and remain at home.
Yvonne’s team consisted of palliative liaison coordinator RN Rachel Fearrey, CCAC care coordinator Cheryl Tidey
and nursing agency RPN Karena Crofts from Paramed. Also, RN Sandy Ambribe and Shauna MacEachern,
occupational therapist.
The above named team members are supported by personal support workers, from Care Partners and
Paramed who paid daily visits to our home. They supplied a variety of services and without them my daughters
and I would not have been able to handle the care required.
Many thanks to: Nicole, Kristin, Maggie, Rose, Margaret, Giloian, Elizabeth, Colbeigh, Maryann, Brianna, Carol
and Shelia for her special support.
Palliative care also requires equipment, such as oxygen, hospital beds, walkers, bathroom supplies and more.
All of this supplied by Medigas and managed by Sara McRae, territory manager.
Bayshore Pharmacy Supply from Markham, Ont. also play a big part of the palliative care unit, supplying
equipment and other necessities.
Meals on Wheels are also a part of this great team, by supplying a variety of prepared food when one has
absolutely no time to prepare meals.
I would especially like to that RPN Karena Crofts for her daily visits and loving care and Kathy McLaughlin,
nurse practitioner for her support and advice over an extended period.
And to our family physician, Dr. Tina Stephenson who is part of the palliative care unit, your many personal
calls to our home and support after Yvonne’s passing were greatly appreciated.
Many thanks to all involved with the palliative care community team in Haliburton County, you all did an
outstanding job.
R. Paul Johnson
Haliburton
*Published in the Haliburton County Echo on Tuesday August 25 2015

11. Questions?