Questions About the Relationship Between Golden Life, Island Health, and CVHS.

Q: I heard that the new hospice will be operated by an American company. Is this true?

A: No, Golden Life Management (GLM) is a family-owned and operated Canadian company.

Q: Will GLM receive money from Comox Valley Hospice Society?

A: CVHS is a tenant at the Ocean Front Village facility and an independent entity whose counsellors and volunteers provide emotional and psycho-social support to patients of the hospice and their families/loved ones. As a society registered in BC and a charity registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency, all donations made to CVHS, including bequests, flow directly to CVHS.

Q: Who makes hiring decisions for the Aitken Community Hospice?

A: GLM is responsible for hiring the nursing staff for the hospice. Requirements are set out in their contract with Island Health.

Q: How are services of the Comox Valley Hospice Society different from the hospice itself?

A: While some of our services are provided at the Aitken Community Hospice, Comox Valley Hospice Society supports palliative clients and their caregivers throughout the community – in their homes and at the Comox Valley Hospital. We also provide anticipatory grief and bereavement support to the loved ones of our palliative clients.

Q: Is end-of-life care provided in the hospice itself overseen by a medical team?

A: Palliative patients that might benefit from a stay in hospice for their end of life care are referred to the hospice by their family physician, the community palliative team or the hospital. During their stay, patients remain under the care of their family physician or a MRP (medically responsible person – a local physician that agrees to oversee their care). GLM will have a medical director providing physician oversight.

Q: Who makes the decisions about how the new hospice beds are occupied?

A: When a hospice room becomes available, an intake panel reviews the list of palliative patients who might benefit from being in hospice to decide who will be invited into the hospice room. The intake panel includes the GLM Director of Care and a GLM Registered Nurse, a Palliative Nurse Coordinator and/or a Palliative Social Worker from Island Health, a Palliative Physician consultant, and a CVHS counsellor.

Questions About Aitken Community Hospice

Q: How many hospice beds are available in the new facility?

A: There are 6 hospice beds, which are only available with a physician's referral. An online tour of the hospice can be viewed at comoxhospice.com.

Q: My doctor has put in a referral to hospice. How long will I have to wait?

A: Having a referral for hospice means that the health community is aware of your request for a hospice bed. Admission referrals are reviewed weekly by an intake panel and are based on a situational criteria. Due to limited space, and the nature of services provided, a referral to hospice cannot guarantee being admitted.

Q: Who makes the decision about who is admitted?

A: The panel is comprised of Island Health's Palliative Nursing Coordinator and Palliative Physician Consultant, Oceanfront Village Director of Clinical Care and Hospice Registered Nurse, and a Comox Valley Hospice Society counsellor. Admissions are determined by patient need, not on the date of referral.

Q: What criteria are considered?

A: Those who are admitted to hospice are considered to be within 90 days of their death. Factors such as a patient's ability to manage their pain levels, day to day care, and mobility are other considerations. A person in a long term care facility will already be receiving a similar level of quality end of life medical care, so they are not transferred to hospice.

Q: How much does it cost to stay in the hospice?

A: The daily fee of approximately $40/day is a rate set annually by the Province of BC plus the cost of medications not covered by the BC Palliative Benefits Program.

Questions about Palliative Care

Q: Is a palliative diagnosis the same as having a terminal illness?

A: A palliative diagnosis means that the treatment and care of an illness or condition is focused on managing symptoms not a cure.

Q: Does having a palliative diagnosis mean that I'm dying?

A: A person who has a palliative diagnosis, is someone who has an illness or a condition that will not be cured and will eventually result in death. This person may still be active and living independently as their condition progresses. It may or may not mean that they are actively dying.

Q: My doctor said I could call CVHS for support. What is available?

A: While grief counselling is not available to the general public, we do offer a range of programs and anticipatory grief resources including limited counselling to:

• Family members of CVHS clients at the end of life

• Those who have been referred by the Island Health Palliative Care Team

• Primary caregivers of someone at the end of life

• Someone who has received a palliative diagnosis.

Our emotional support programs include volunteer support and visiting programs, self care clinics, support groups when available, and limited one to one counselling.

Q: I have an aging parent whose health is failing. Do they have to be admitted to hospice to receive emotional support?

A: No. We believe that hospice care is a philosophy and not limited to a specific loc

Q: What support is available for them?

A: Depending on the availability of our volunteers, we may be able to provide visitation in person or over the phone. Reiki and healing touch can supplement pain management and sessions are offered by some of our volunteers who are trained in these modalities. We have an extensive lending library, online resources, and there may be limited personal counselling provided by a CVHS counsellor.ation. Comox Valley residents who are nearing the end of life can access our services whether they are at home, in hospital, in a long term care facility, or at the Aitken Community Hospice.

Q: Does CVHS offer services when the end of life is due to aging?

A: Yes, CVHS celebrates aging and we support elders wherever they live in the community. Someone no longer able to see to their own physical care often accesses services in a long term care facility. The Island Health Palliative Home Care Team may help with some aspects of care at home, or referrals to hospice are made by a physician for those not already accessing care through Island Health at a long term care facility. CVHS volunteers can provide services in all of these situations, including at Comox Valley Hospital.