The Neepawa Health Auxiliary’s second session on October 10, 2023 was a presentation about Palliative Care from Prairie Mountain Health representative, Sharla Murray. According to Prairie Mountain Health, Palliative Care is a commitment to whole person care for patients who are facing a life limiting illness that can not be cured, it is a commitment to whole person care, that helps to relieve suffering and improve quality of life until the end of life

Murray presented the different services that can be availed through the Palliative program. She discussed the process when someone can be referred to Palliative, who can make the referral and the role of the Palliative Care Team. She also discussed the Palliative Care Drug Access Program which is a provincial program available for Manitoba residents who are registered with a Palliative Care Program which covers the costs of most medications and oxygen needed by the palliative patient.

She also mentioned that the Palliative Care program has a Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator and that all palliative volunteers are trained with same education developed by the Provincial Palliative Care Network.

“Many communities have a volunteer group comprised of individuals who have interest in Palliative Care, they can provide companionship such as playing cards or watching TV, emotional support, listening to clients or validating their concern, caregiver respite and bereavement support but they also help raise money for the Palliative program and also just educating the community to make them aware of their services.”, said Murray.

She also added, “We do have group here in Neepawa and they are working on getting more groups in the North. Brandon has Westman hospice that does their volunteer groups in Brandon. The referrals for clients that are in the community, they would need to be referred to the Palliatve Care Porgram so they will be registered but the volunteer can be accessed in the hospital without making that referral as long as the patient is considered a Palliative diagnosis.”

Aside from the benefits that can be accessed by the patients, it also has a Compassionate Care benefits available to the families of Palliative patients which allows family members up to 6 months off from work to be able to spend time with a family member who has a prognosis of less than 6 months. Also, there is a bereavement program for kids or teens called Camp Bridges which is a weekend camp for kids from 7-15 years old.  

There are a wide variety of services for Palliative Care and it is important that people in the community are informed about it to make sure that those who are candidates of Palliative Care are able to access it and to make sure that informed decisions are made by the patient, their family, health care representative or the physician.