Palliative Care Program

If you have a progressive life limiting illness, the Provincial Integrated Palliative Care Program may be able to help you and your family through this difficult time. You can access palliative care services through a PEI Home Care office near your community.

How can palliative care help me?

Palliative care is provided by a team, not one single individual. The team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, volunteers as well as other professionals that can support you and your family. Any member of the team can play a more significant role in the care of one family. That team member may remain the same over years or may change as your needs evolve.

• understanding your illness and treatment options,
• expressing your wishes and personal goals, and helping you to achieve these goals,
• pain and symptom management,
• limited respite care,
• emotional and spiritual support,
• advance care planning, and
• ongoing bereavement support.

How will I know when I need palliative care?

The real question that one should ask themselves is “Do I have any unmet palliative care needs?”. 

You may have unmet palliative care needs if:

• you are experiencing the following symptoms:
  • pain
  • fatigue
  • nausea
  • lack of appetite
  • shortness of breath
  • depression
  • anxiety
• your illness is resulting in frequent trips to emergency or admissions to hospital; or
• the goals of your care have changed.

Will I have to leave home to receive palliative care service?

No.

Trained, qualified palliative care teams provide comfort and support in the setting most appropriate to your needs –in long-term care, community care or palliative care facility, as well as in a hospital setting.

What is the Paramedics Providing Palliative Care at Home Program?

Should a patient with palliative care needs experience an unexpected event while at home after hours*, in-home support is available through Island EMS. By calling 9-1-1, trained paramedics will help provide care and support to you or your loved one at home. Island EMS paramedics are trained in palliative pain and symptom management. There is no fee for this in-home service to patients registered in the Provincial Integrated Palliative Care Program who have a valid PEI Health Card. Fees may apply in the event of transport or for non-urgent ambulance services. Learn more about the Paramedics Providing Palliative Care at Home Program. For further information, visit www.islandems.ca

*After hours is the time when your Home Care Nurse is not regularly available. Please consult with your Home Care Nursing team.

How do I contact someone about palliative care?

You can contact your family doctor, Home Care in your community, or the Provincial Palliative Care Office:

Home Care Offices

Souris
Souris Hospital
17 Knights Avenue
PO Box 640
Souris, PE   C0A 2B0

Telephone:  (902) 687-7096

Montague
6 Harmony Lane
PO Box 490
Montague, PE   C0A 1R0

Telephone:  (902) 838-0786

Charlottetown
165 John Yeo Drive
Suite 201
Charlottetown, PE   C1E 3J3

Telephone:  (902) 368-4790

Summerside
Wedgewood Manor
310 Brophy Avenue
Summerside, PE   C1N 5N4

Telephone:  (902) 888-8440

O’Leary
Community Hospital
14 MacKinnon Drive
PO Box 160
O'Leary, PE   C0B 1V0

Telephone:  (902) 859-8730

Provincial Palliative Care Centre
93 Murchison Lane
Charlottetown, PE   C1A 0G3

Telephone: (902) 368-4781
Email:  palliativeadmin@ihis.or