TDMH offers palliative care program
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Facing death or a terminal illness can be an overwhelming ordeal.
That’s where volunteers with the palliative care program at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital step in and help.
“Palliative care is a multi-dimensional program where trained volunteers work with not only the terminally ill, but also anyone with a life-threatening illness,” said palliative care volunteer, Bonnie Phillips. “We provide an ear and our hearts to the patient - we’re there for them to listen, to hear what their story is all about and to help them live basically until they die.”
The palliative care program first began in Tillsonburg in the late 1980’s, and although it stopped for a couple of years, and re-started again in 1992, it has been an important part of the hospital since.
There are currently 13 volunteers with the palliative care program at TDMH and Phillips herself has been with the program for the past 13 years.
“We help them prepare to die as well, but we want to give them the best quality of life we possibly can until their last breath,” she said noting that volunteers also work very closely with the family and offer their support to them as well.
May 5 – 11, 2013 marks Palliative Care Week, an awareness campaign that can help educate the public about palliative care, the program at TDMH and what volunteers do for the patients and families involved.
“Many people in the community aren’t even aware of this palliative care service – we’re the only trained palliative care volunteers, trained to do this work in Oxford County,” said Phillips.
At TDMH, there are two specialized palliative care rooms that are used by the patients - each one providing a few extras, and the comforts of home to enhance the care of the patient and their families.
“The premise behind it was to try and make it as homey and as comfortable as possible for the patient that cannot die at home,” said Phillips. “It’s a special bed and mattress that we have – we as volunteers provide a quilt for the patient and for the family to take home afterwards. We have pretty curtains, a large clock, a lazy-boy recliner and we also have a cabinet that houses a flat-screen tv and dvd player.”
For those patients needing a palliative care room at TDMH, there is a process that must be followed, before a patient is accepted.
“It all depends on the stage of the illness that they’re at – there’s a criteria that needs to be met before they go into the palliative care room,” explained Phillips. “We visit them prior to them going into the palliative care room and as their illness progresses and they do become palliative, we work along with them as well.”
Although there may be only two rooms for long-term palliative care patients at TDMH, noted Phillips, patients of all ages, including children and in all departments at the hospital, can use the palliative care services if required - they do not need to be staying in one of the two palliative care rooms.
“Anyone coming through the emergency department, if a child is brought in with their family and they require any kind of support, there are several volunteers on our list who can be called at any time who will come to the emergency department and be with the family and help them transition through whatever difficult situation they’re going through,” she added.
Volunteers with the program are specially trained to help deal with the emotional and sensitive issues or situations that can be associated with palliative care.
“The pre-requisite is what is called the fundamental course - it’s a 30 hour program that is offered in Tillsonburg,” explained Phillips. “Once that is completed, you can become a palliative care volunteer or work in the hospice community as well.”
In addition, palliative care volunteers take part in the ‘celebration of life’, an annual event held at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital each fall.
Lorraine Mountford has been a volunteer with the palliative care program at TDMH for the past 20 years.
“I like working in the hospital, it’s my passion,” she said. “I think it’s an honour. It’s an honour to be with these people, we learn so much from them.”
Mountford, age 85, noted what has stood out for her most in her 20 years of palliative care service at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital - summing up what the program is all about.
“You wouldn’t believe how much the families appreciate us. You’ll say, I didn’t do very much but the family will always say that you were there,” Mountford concluded.
If you would like to volunteer with the palliative care program at TDMH, for more information call (519) 842-3611 ext. 5306