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Many times when people hear the words “palliative care” they think of the final days or hours of life. But palliative care is a holistic approach that provides care to people of all ages who are coping with the effects of a life-limiting illness. It also supports clients’ loved ones through education, respite and grief counselling.

“At VON, we provide services that support individuals and their families across every stage of the palliative journey—from the time of diagnosis to end-of-life and into grief and bereavement,” says Aleena Halliwushka, Director of Home and Community Care, VON Ontario East Region. 

Through early intervention, VON care providers are able to improve health outcomes and even life expectancy. “When we catch people early in their disease trajectory, they actually have better health outcomes and can live longer, because they’ve had the chance to design what their life will look like.”

Aleena says the approach allows clients to set clear boundaries of what they want and don't want. “They're living their life in a way that makes them happy and brings joy to them and their families at a difficult time.”

Traditionally, in health care, patients get a care plan that outlines physical care needs, but hospice care planning also considers spiritual, emotional, and psychological needs. “It's looking at you as a whole being and creating a care plan that's not just your physical needs,” says Aleena.

Palliative care supports the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of people living with serious illness. A palliative approach to care starts early—from diagnosis—and includes conversations about goals of care, symptom management and support for families and caregivers.

Through a unique blend of community support services (CSS), home care, hospice residences and grief and bereavement programs, VON team members can provide individuals and families with seamless, person-centred care. VON’s interprofessional teams, which include nurses, personal support workers, social workers, volunteers and spiritual care providers, collaborate to ensure seamless, person- and family-centred care.

Services fall into buckets including early intervention, end-of-life care and grief and bereavement, and may include home nursing and in-home care by personal support workers (PSWs), volunteer visiting, day hospice programs, caregiver support, hospices residence care and grief and bereavement counselling. 

In addition, VON recently added a team of palliative care clinical coaches, who provide specialized coaching and education for other healthcare providers. Together with our pain and symptom management consultants, they drive practice change and improve access to quality clinical care. 

VON recently received funding to add “level three” grief and bereavement supports—enabling us to provide care and support for those experiencing complex grief, with counselling by specialized supportive care counsellors. 

Too often, Aleena says, families don’t know what’s available, or they assume palliative care can only begin at the end stage of life. By connecting with initiatives like the Waiting Room Revolution, and through ongoing collaboration with community and academic partners, we’re working to empower clients and families to ask questions, advocate for their needs and access supports early in their care journey.

Importantly, many of our CSS programs—including volunteer visiting and day hospice—do not require a physician referral. 

VON plays an important role in advocacy and system navigation, assisting families in understanding their options, connecting with community resources and receiving compassionate care in their own homes. Whether it's supporting symptom management, coordinating hospice admissions or offering emotional and spiritual support, our teams are dedicated to walking alongside families every step of the way.

Not all programs are offered in all of VON’s service areas. To learn more about how VON’s palliative programs can support you or your family, visit von.ca/von-care/palliative-care-services-and-programs.