(May 4, 2023, Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is proud to host National Hospice Palliative Care Week 2023 from May 7th to May 13th.This year’s campaign theme is “Palliative Care Everywhere,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring comprehensive and quality palliative care is accessible to every person facing a life-limiting illness, regardless of their setting of care or their postal code.
Palliative care is person-centered care that alleviates the suffering of people facing a life-limiting illness, including respite for caregivers and loved ones, mental health and spiritual support, and ensuring the best quality of life for those receiving care. It can be provided in any setting, from hospice to long-term care, hospital to home.
While access to palliative care has improved over recent years, the latest data shows that only 58% of Canadians who died in 2021-2022 received palliative care, usually in a hospital. The “Palliative Care Everywhere” campaign highlights that there are no limits on where a palliative approach to care can be provided. It reminds us that wherever people face life-limiting illnesses, end-of-life, and grief, there must also be a place for palliative care.
In recognition of the many ongoing community efforts dedicated to improving access to palliative care, CHPCA is offering a free webinar on Thursday, May 11th, 2023, at 2pm EST titled “Breaking Barriers: Building Palliative Care Everywhere.” This webinar will showcase innovative programs and projects leading the way to better compassionate care in Canadian communities.
“This week, we celebrate the indispensable and compassionate care provided by health care workers, volunteers, unpaid caregivers and many others across Canada. The impact of palliative care on a person’s quality of life and on their family is profoundly meaningful, and every person with a life-limiting illness deserves to receive this level of care,” said Laurel Gillespie, CEO of CHPCA. “Sadly, less than 60% of Canadians who died last year received care from the discipline that specializes, in part, in caring for the dying. It is time for everyone in Canada to come together to build a future where ‘Palliative Care Everywhere’ is true in every postal code.”
Join us in celebrating and building the future of accessible high-quality palliative care for all in Canada. To learn more about National Hospice Palliative Care Week 2023, to support better access to palliative care, and to register for the free webinar, visit the CHPCA website at www.chpca.ca/week.
National Hospice Palliative Care Week is coordinated by CHPCA. Funding for the National Hospice Palliative Care Week 2023 campaign is provided by Saint Elizabeth Foundation, GSK, Innovative Medicines Canada, and Purdue Pharma.
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About the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association –
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada. CHPCA is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in hospice palliative care and provides leadership on advocacy, education, research, and knowledge translation to ensure that everyone in Canada has access to high-quality hospice palliative care. CHPCA operates in close partnership with provincial hospice palliative care organizations and other national organizations to strengthen the accessibility and quality of palliative care provided across Canada. Visit www.chpca.ca to find out more.
Contact:
Katrielle Ethier
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
[email protected]
(343) 804-4414