Hospice Care

I'm very involved in the provision of hospice care in Canada, including direct service to patients in a residential care facility. I'm also helping to set up a new free-standing hospice in Ottawa, where I live, and I'm writing a research report on Death and Dying in Canada and its impact on families. Surprisingly, perhaps, my work gives me great hope and energy.

I'm especially inspired by the work I've see on this site by prisoners doing hospice work inside prisons. I'd love to see that happening in Canada.

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Comment by Katherine on February 23, 2013 at 8:57pm

I hope you'll continue to post about this important work as the project unfolds. There are always growing pains and bumps in any work we undertake - lots of chances for practice of forgiveness, self compassion, patience - and beginner's mind.... I just spent the morning training new volunteers at the new hospice. Lots of openness and fears and conversations! I felt so honoured to be welcomed into this process!

Comment by susan shannon on February 23, 2013 at 11:36am

Hey Katherine! Recently have been included in conversations about starting a hospice at San Quentin. There is a new cdcr hospital opening in Stockton in July that will be taking a lot of patients from the SQ hospital, but it seems some of different custody levels will remain at the Q. Powers that be are interested in seeing this move forward, albeit at a snail's pace!

However one piece of good news is last week marked the final push for a group to be formed offering spiritual support to terminally ill inmates there. This idea came from one of the inmates I know and work with who is dealing with stage 4 bone cancer. He is a very altruistic man for sure-it is a blessing that I have been asked to moderate the group. I hope to find a co-facilitator soon as well as an inmate co-facilitator. We already have a list of guys ready to go. So, little by little...

Thanks for bringing this topic up.

Comment by Katherine on February 18, 2013 at 11:40am

The need for prison hospices is so great, yet it seems that nothing's been done on that front in Canada. There's an amazing Mission Hospice hospice here in Ottawa, and on occasion a prisoner who is dying will be released to the hospice.

Comment by Carter (PDN Admin) on February 18, 2013 at 11:31am

Hi Katherine,

It's great to hear what you're up to in Canada!  Our Founder, Fleet Maull, also established an organization called the National Prison Hospice Association.  It is not very active anymore except to serve as a standing resource of documents and research on prison hospice programs. 

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