One-to-One Support

In the Home Palliative Support

The hospice volunteer provides various services to the palliative patient and their family in the private home. The aim of AHS home support is to improve the quality of living and dying for people whose disease cannot be cured and provide respite for families. A trained volunteer companion integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of care and offers a support system to help clients and families cope with death.

Vigil Services

The goal of the vigil service is to connect patients with a volunteer to sit vigil during their final 72 hours. This may be companionship by simply being present with the patient who is dying without family members or friends available or could mean support to family members who need a break from the bedside of their loved one.

Extended Care Home Support

Volunteers support patients in various residential care settings by providing practical and psychosocial care to patients and emotional support to families.

Spiritual Care Services for Palliative Clients and Families

AHS volunteers provide spiritual care support to patients in a variety of settings. Talk to Meghan Neufeld, Palliative Services Manager

Residential Hospice Support

AHS supports palliative patients and their families in the Christine Morrison Hospice Residence (CMH) located in Mission, B.C. At the present time, this facility is the sole hospice serving the residents of Abbotsford and Mission. AHS team members provide practical and psychosocial care and support to patients and families during end of life. AHS staff contributes to the ongoing evaluation of the support programs offered through the society and attend weekly rounds.

Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre Visiting

The hospital visiting service provides volunteers to support palliative patients in Abbotsford Regional Hospital in general medicine palliative beds and oncology ward. Volunteers provide practical and psychosocial care to patients and provide emotional support to patient families.

Support for Tertiary Palliative Care Unit (TPCU) Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre

AHS staff and volunteers support both patients and their families while they are in or associated with this special unit. The Tertiary Palliative Care Unit (TPCU) is located in the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and provides specialized care for those palliative patients with severe or high intensity symptoms that cannot be managed in a regular hospital unit or in a hospice residence. These patients may not necessarily be in an active dying phase and examples of symptoms include psycho social as well as extreme and complicated pain management. Patients from throughout the province have access to the TPCU.

Drop in Support

During office hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday, AHS receives drop in clients who are grieving a loss or caring for a loved one who is dying. AHS staff provide immediate support and referral to ongoing AHS services and/or community resources.

Emergency Room Support

AHS staff & volunteers will visit the ARH emergency room to provide support to families and friends of palliative emergency room patients who are anticipating an imminent death.

Hospice Lending Library

The community can access diverse and culturally sensitive information and resources on a variety of subjects including end of life and grief and loss.

Counselling

In certain circumstances AHS staff will provide counselling through a registered clinical counselor to palliative patients and their families.

Complementary Therapies for palliative clients and caregivers

Therapies such as music, reflexology, massage and healing touch can be provided to enhance the quality of life for palliative patients and caregivers. These services are offered by appointment only and based on availability of therapists. Please contact Meghan Neufeld, Palliative Services Manager for more information or to arrange an appointment.

Fraser Health Palliative Care team

The Fraser Health Hospice Palliative Care Team for Abbotsford consists of a palliative physician, clinical nurse specialist, clinical resource nurse, social worker. The AHS Palliative Services Manager meets with the team weekly and receives various referrals for palliative and anticipatory grief support on an ongoing basis