Increasing access to high quality palliative care at home for all Canadians is a priority for the CHCA. By understanding gaps, challenges and opportunities we are working to improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of home-based palliative care. Engaging patients, caregivers, health care providers and policymakers, the CHCA is introducing new ways to increase frontline providers’ knowledge and skills, enhance patient and caregiver satisfaction and facilitate the spread and scale of innovative models across the country.

News

New Advance Care Planning Toolkit 
June 15, 2021
A new resource guide features practical and field-tested resources and tools for home and community care providers.  Developed by the CHCA in partnership with CHPCA on behalf of the ACP in Canada project, in consultation with subject matter experts from across Canada. Learn more

National Framework for Palliative Care  
2018
The Framework reflects a collective vision for palliative care aiming to ensure Canadians have the best possible quality of life, right up to the end of life.  Learn More 

Quick Facts

In December 2017, Parliament passed into law An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada (Ministry of Justice, 2021)

Provider training and caregiver support are 2 priorities in the National Palliative Care Framework (Health Canada, 2018)

Despite Canadians’ wishes to die at home, 60% die in hospitals The Way Forward, Harris/Decima survey, 2013. (Stats Canada, 2018)

75% of Canadians who had a preference would choose to die in their home (CHPCA, 2013)

3.7 million Canadians aged 15 and older reported providing end-of-life or palliative care to a family member or friend at some point in their lives. Statistics Canada, 2012

Only 15% of Canadians who died in 2016 received publically funded palliative home care in their last year of life (Health Canada, 2018)

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Framework on Palliative Care in Canada ACT

(current to August 10, 2021)

In December 2017, Parliament passed into law An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada. The Act required the Minister of Health to conduct consultations with P/Ts and palliative care providers, to inform the development of a framework. Download the ACT

Recognizing the dynamic state of palliative care in Canada, the purpose of the Framework is to provide a tool for all parties with a responsibility for palliative care, to help shape decision making, organizational change, and planning within the current context. Access the Framework

This national initiative aims to integrate high-quality palliative care earlier into the ongoing care of Canadians with serious life-limiting illness. A framework, statistics, reports and tools can be accessed through the website.

This report aims to provide a better understanding of how Canadians access palliative care in the community and other care settings including access to care, quality of care, clinician preparation and patient/family involvement. Download the Report

This national campaign includes tools and information to encourage advance care planning as a process and help Canadians think about and share their wishes for future health and personal care. Visit the website 

The BC Centre for Palliative Care is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Ministry of Health to accelerate best practices, promote innovation and enhance capacity within the system and in the community in relation to palliative care, advance care planning and compassionate communities. Visit the Website

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