Hospice Palliative Care Stories
Stories shared here reflect not only the meaningful support that hospice palliative care can bring, but also the challenges in accessing it. Through these honest experiences, we see both the heartache and the hope, the struggle and the strength. These voices remind us why improving access to quality hospice palliative care matters in every community, across every setting.
Jackie’s Story
Seven years ago, my mother died from pancreatic cancer. It took 9 months of lost referrals, unmanaged pain, and many trips to emerg to finally get the correct diagnosis.
Once we connected with the local Palliative Care team, we felt strongly that Mom was in good hands. These people were kind and incredibly informative-answering any and all questions I asked. They told us that Mom would start to sleep more over the coming days/weeks and that eventually she would pass peacefully. This was not so.
In the end, we needed the assistance of the Palliative Care team, but on a Sunday evening in April 2018, they were not able to come when we needed them, due to a staff shortage in the region. So this left me and my brother alone, helping our mom die at home.
We were not prepared for the final stages of dying. It was not peaceful for the final 6 hours.
More than anything-I wish for better, open and honest communication about what death might look like. That it may not be pretty and that the people who tell you will be there may not be. I feel very strongly that more information about what to expect would have made those final 6 hours a whole lot less scary.
Jackie B., Nova Scotia
