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Our Location:
Richmond Pavilion,
3rd Floor 1952 Bay Street at
Richmond Road Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8R 1J8
(250) 370-8715 - 24 hours
Care is provided to registered patients and family members in their homes, and on our beautifully refurbished 17-bed palliative care in-patient unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Richmond Pavilion, as well as through medical consultations in other local health care facilities.
Our History:
Victoria Hospice began as a provincial Ministry of Health pilot project in 1980 – the first integrated palliative care program in British Columbia. The Victoria Hospice Society was created in 1983 as a registered charitable organization following the amalgamation of Hospice Victoria and the volunteers of the Victoria Association for Care of the Dying.
Our Care:
Since 1980, Victoria Hospice has been providing:
| • | expert physical care to minimize pain and other symptoms |
| • | 24-hour crisis intervention at home (Palliative Response Team consisting of a palliative care nurse and counsellor) |
| • | counselling and bereavement support for patients and family members; Victoria Hospice patients’ surviving family members can receive bereavement counselling and support for one year following the death. Several Victoria Hospice bereavement support groups are offered including Young Widows, Parents & Children, and Walking Groups. |
| • | spiritual support for people of all faiths, cultures and beliefs |
| • | trained volunteer support and companionship (500 trained volunteers) |
| • | medical consultation to other facilities (nursing homes, hospital wards, etc.) |
| • | respite care to give at-home caregivers a break |
| • | resources and education to professionals, caregivers and volunteers |
Our Stats:
*
Over 80% of patients registered with Victoria Hospice have cancer; other
diagnoses include AIDS, circulatory, neurological, respiratory and other
chronic and progressive diseases.
*
65% of all patients who die of cancer in Greater Victoria are involved with
Victoria Hospice.
* Over 840 patients were registered on our program of care last year, half
of whom were able to die at home close to family and friends thanks to our
24-hour Victoria Hospice Palliative Response Team and partnerships with the Vancouver Island Health Authority
Home & Community Care
Nursing and Community Health Worker services.
* Although we have 17 beds on our in-patient unit, on any given day over
320 patients are registered on our program of care at home.
*
Last year, 234 ward consultations were provided by Victoria Hospice
palliative care physicians
for non-registered patients being cared for in other hospital beds.
*
75% of health care dollars are spent during a person’s last year of
life.
Our Funding:
*
Out of an annual operating budget of over $6 million, Victoria Hospice must
raise $3 million (approximately 50%) from community donations through our Victoria
Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation. You can help us by
making a donation. Please note: our Foundation has a new
address, now located at 1510 Fort Street, Stadacona Centre, Victoria, BC
V8S 5J2. The new telephone number is (250) 952-5720, or you can
e-mail our fundraising staff at
vic.hospice@viha.ca. Last year, we opened the
Victoria Hospice Thrift
Boutique at 1315 Cook Street near Yates to raise funds and awareness
for our end-of-life care programs. Learn more about Victoria Hospice
funding in our current
Report to Donors, or our latest
Annual Report including highlights from our audited financial
statements.
Read our Victoria Hospice Guide to Services brochure.
Want to learn more about
end-of-life care in our community? Victoria Hospice presents a
Hospice & Palliative Care Information Evening on
Tuesday, February 19, 7-8:30 pm at
the Salvation Army Citadel Church, 4030 Douglas at Mackenzie, off Pat Bay
Highway. A panel discussion led by a nurse and counsellor from Victoria Hospice will
address audience questions about end-of-life care options in Greater
Victoria. Free
admission, open to all, refreshments served, and volunteer drivers are
available for rides there and back. Call our Volunteer Office at
(250) 370-8727 to arrange a ride. These Information Evenings will be
held on the third Tuesday of each month at the same location and time.
For more information about these Information Evenings or other community
activities of Victoria Hospice, contact our Communications Coordinator
Carolyn Thomas at (250) 370-8813.
