Workers at Hospice Halifax prioritize comfort, dignity, and the personal journey at life’s end. Unfortunately, in Nova Scotia, a scarcity of specialized hospice beds means a peaceful passing is a luxury rather than guaranteed. Claire Prashad, the hospice’s nurse manager, emphasizes the urgent need for expanded end-of-life care.
Prashad highlights the ideal ratio of seven hospice beds per 100,000 people, a benchmark Nova Scotia falls short of with only 30 hospice beds province-wide: 10 in Halifax, 10 in the Annapolis Valley, and 10 in Cape Breton. To align with standards, Nova Scotia should have up to 80 beds, with Halifax alone potentially requiring 30.
The limited bed capacity leaves Hospice Halifax struggling to manage the 10 beds they have, while approximately 30 to 35 individuals await care at any given time. Prashad describes the situation as heartbreaking, revealing that for every one person they admit, two are turned away.
The Department of Health and Wellness is currently reviewing hospice care across the province and plans to appoint a medical director to supervise the gradual expansion of services at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg, adding five new hospice beds.
Responding to inquiries about the shortage, Health Minister Michelle Thompson mentions the availability of 40 single palliative care beds as an alternative. Thompson acknowledges the need for improvements in end-of-life care and expresses a commitment to addressing the issue.
Prashad stresses the distinction between other palliative care settings and the specialized hospice model, emphasizing the collaborative efforts with community nurses and hospital units to prevent deaths in emergency settings. The hospice’s home-like environment provides a stark contrast to traditional hospital palliative care units within institutional settings.
Operated by a small team of 14 dedicated staff, Hospice Halifax offers personalized care focusing on presence and listening. The facility relies on both community support and government funding to sustain its operations. Prashad urges the public to engage with their local representatives to advocate for hospice services in their communities.
In Kentville, Valley Hospice operates with a distinct financial model compared to Hospice Halifax, with 10 patient beds funded primarily by the province and supplemented by the Valley Hospice Foundation. Since opening in September 2020, Valley Hospice has seen a consistent rise in demand, with current occupancy exceeding 80%.
For those fortunate enough to secure a bed, the hospice experience proves transformative, catering to individual physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Various services such as music therapy, pet visits, and fulfilling final wishes enhance the quality of end-of-life care.
Kaitlin Cantrell, the social work coordinator at Hospice Halifax, underscores the unique and personalized care plans tailored to each patient’s requirements. She emphasizes the relief hospice care offers families, allowing them to focus on being family members rather than caregivers during their loved one’s final moments.