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Airdrie society pioneering community palliative care

A group of local residents and professionals has come together with the common goal of helping people live until they die. The Airdrie and District Hospice Society has been working since February to bring end-of-life care to individuals in Airdrie.

A group of local residents and professionals has come together with the common goal of helping people live until they die.

The Airdrie and District Hospice Society has been working since February to bring end-of-life care to individuals in Airdrie.

The Society’s goal is to allow people with life-limiting illness to remain in their homes as long as possible.

“In Airdrie and the surrounding areas, the majority of people don’t like to go into Calgary on a good day, let alone to die,” said Doug Lynch, member of the Society.

Members of the society came together for a number of reasons but most have lost a loved one and had experiences with hospices in other cities.

Founder of the Society Trenton Beday lost his father and brother within the past two years.

He said the help the hospice gave his father and the bereavement program his mother is using to cope with his brother’s death have been priceless.

“My father got his sense of humour back and was his old self again when he realized the pain could be managed,” he said.

“My mom is now dealing with my dad’s death so she can move on and deal with my brother. There are so many aspects a hospice can help you through.”

The group is not planning to build a hospice, but to work on a community solution to improve patients’ quality of life.

“There is more to a hospice than the bricks and mortar. It’s about total community involvement to help these people on their journey,” said Lynch.

“Our feeling is no one dies alone.”

Although in very early stages, the Society envisions a group that organizes volunteers and sends them to community members who need help with chores such as shovelling their sidewalk, buying groceries, making meals and walking the dog.

Studies have shown that patients in a community setting use less medication, have fewer side effects and reduced stress levels and even live longer than those in hospital settings.

Michelle Grey, a palliative nurse for home care in Airdrie and the surrounding area, said it is important a community cares for people at the end of their lives.

“It is not just about pain management and managing symptoms, it is about meeting their emotional, spiritual and financial needs,” she said.

“Airdrie has generous people who would like to help make the end of others’ lives more manageable.”

The group has conferred with the executive directors of Calgary, Red Deer and Okotoks hospices to get input.

It is also working closely with Martin LaBrie, palliative care consultant and physician for the Palliative/End of Life Care – Calgary Zone.

“The whole concept of health care is having to change right now,” said LaBrie.

“It is becoming more of a community response to make sure needs are met.”

LaBrie said the Society considered the idea of a hospice building but when Okotoks opened its hospice, it was immediately filled with people on waiting lists in Calgary.

“That wouldn’t meet the goals of this organization. We want to provide a solution to the community that comes from the community,” said LaBrie.

The Society is also working with a nurse and a masters student from the University of Calgary to conduct a community assessment to determine the needs in the community.

Shelley Raffin and Julie Bertram are encouraging residents to come forward and share their experiences with the Society.

“The next step is going to the community and asking them what they perceive the needs of the community to be,” said Raffin.

“We will work with health care providers and other community groups and see what the answers look like if they are community-based, not institutional.”

The research team will interview people affected by an end-of-life illness to identify common themes in the community.

These individuals can include family members, home care workers, nurses or anyone affected by the life-limiting illness.

Individuals will be interviewed in confidence and in small groups.

“It doesn’t take a huge effort on the part of one person but many small efforts from many people,” said LaBrie.

Caregivers, whether they are family members or home care workers, also need to be looked after and the study will identify ways to help those caring for palliative patients as well, he added.

If you are interested in sharing your experience with the Airdrie and District Hospice Society, call Barb at 403-988-4611 or email [email protected]


Airdrie Today Staff

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