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End of Life and Bereavement Services Database

 

Oceanside Hospice Society staff and volunteers provide community based hospice supports in a team setting with healthcare professionals. We can help you navigate the system at this difficult time.

The Hospice Palliative Care Philosophy

  • Focuses on comfort rather than cure of an illness.
  • Eases symptoms and suffering for those living with a life-limiting illness.
  • Offers compassion, comfort and dignity.
  • Aims to give dying people and their families the best quality of life.
  • Does not hasten or delay death.
  • Recognizes death as a natural part of life.
  • Improves quality of life by offering comfort and dignity.
  • Offers comfort, emotional and spiritual supports to the person and family.
  • Allows people to continue receiving treatments that slow the progress of the disease and reduces uncomfortable or distressing symptoms.

Hospice / Palliative Team

Your hospice palliative care team includes:

  • you and your family
  • your physician
  • hospice staff and volunteers
  • social workers and counsellors
  • nurses
  • pharmacists
  • spiritual care consultant
  • personal care workers and others as needed.

You and your family are important members of this care team. There will be choices to make about future health decisions such as where you want to spend your final days and what treatments and comfort measures you wish to have or not have.

Few of us are prepared to face a life-threatening illness or the loss of a loved one. Hospice provides important support services that help others find comfort, meaning, dignity, and hope when faced with the difficult journey of living with dying and coping with loss.

The Oceanside Hospice Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families who are facing end-of-life issues and bereavement. The OHS was established in 1990 and provides much-needed programs and services to the residents of Oceanside, living in the communities stretching from Nanoose to Deep Bay, and west to Whiskey Creek.

With the support of Volunteers we offer a variety of support programs, from equipment loan delivery to providing respite for caregivers.

Healthcare professionals, community agencies, family, and friends may make referrals to our services; however, the person being referred must give their consent or contact us personally.

Hospice Myths

Myth: Hospice is only for people with cancer.
Fact: Hospice care is for all patients facing a terminal illness.
Myth: Accepting hospice services means giving up, so you should put it off until the last moment
Fact: Hospice is all about living life to the fullest. We never give up hope!
Myth: Hospice care will be a financial drain on the family.
Fact: Oceanside Hospice Society is a non profit charity and as such offers services free of charge and based upon ability to pay.
Myth: When someone I love dies, I should be over my grief within 3 months to a year
Fact: Everyone’s loss is different and personal. OHS staff and volunteers will walk beside you as you move toward grief through continued mourning.
Myth: To volunteer at hospice I need to be experienced working with the terminally ill.
Fact: Oceanside Hospice Society can utilize many skill sets and interests in volunteer capacities for event planning, fund development, and caregiver supports.