Across Canada, the first full week of May is National Hospice Palliative Care Week. The theme this year is “Palliative Care Is For You.” Life-limiting illnesses affect more than just the person who is sick. They also affect their caregivers and loved ones.
The Nakusp Hospice Society has 18 volunteers who are trained to offer end-of-life support in the way of bedside vigils and friendly visits, “breather” time for family members, and grief and bereavement companionship. We can assist with advance care planning and have a lending resource library. All of our services are free of charge and confidential.
Our program coordinator, Fran Ure, receives referrals for hospice services from health care professionals, friends and family. She then arranges for volunteers to provide the requested hospice services. The Nakusp Hospice Society endeavours to offer additional educational sessions for our volunteers and also for the community.
Ure has recently facilitated free workshops for advanced care planning. It involves discussing and preparing for future decisions about your medical care if you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes. Having meaningful conversations with your loved ones is the most important part of advance care planning.
Many of our volunteers have been providing hospice services for decades; we are truly grateful for their compassion and commitment. More volunteers are needed to help us continue providing this service in our communities. Ure has six people interested in taking the 30-hour volunteer training course. If this is something you are interested in, please contact Ure at 778-700-3284. We are planning to hold training sometime this fall.
Perhaps you would prefer to be involved with policy or fundraising events. Nakusp Hospice Society was operational long before it was incorporated as a society in 1997. Our board of directors may have up to 10 members; we currently have nine. Please contact our chairperson, Tania Quigley, at 250-306-6519 if you are interested in sitting on our board.
We are thankful for the bingo and meat draw fundraising opportunities provided by the Royal Legion's Branch 20, and to Kelly Roberts at Royal LePage for providing us with a venue for our Memorial Tree – Celebrate a Life Campaign. Many thanks to the community for your support!
National Hospice Palliative Care Week is the time to celebrate and highlight the incredible work being done to provide quality palliative care across the country. During May, we will be having our hospice volunteer appreciation, a Death Cafe and our Hike for Hospice. Please join us as we walk, run, wheel and scoot to raise funds and awareness. Pledge forms will be available online at nakusphospice.com and Royal LePage.
Lee-Anne Marshall is director of the Nakusp Hospice Society.
