The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association is how receiving applications for the Ina Cummings Award.  The award is presented to an individual who demonstrates excellence in hospice palliative care and dedication to the concepts of education, research and leadership.

The award will be presented at the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care conference May 10-12, 2012  at the Atlantica Hotel in Halifax.  The winner will receive a free registration to the conference.

Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday March 9, 2012.

More details regarding the award criteria and the nomination process can be found here (PDF)

Please direct any inquiries to info@nshpca.ca.

The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association successfully completed the recruitment process for the Association’s first Executive Director. Ms. Colleen Cash began the position in September.

Colleen completed her Masters of Health Services Administration at Dalhousie University in 1999. She also holds Bachelor degrees’ in Business Administration and Arts. Her professional career has included 10 years of experience in global health and health administration roles in Nova Scotia. Colleen brings a number of skills and talents to the ED role, such as an understanding of the Nova Scotia health system, project management, partnership development skills and a passion for moving palliative care forward in the province.

“This is a landmark moment in the history of the NSHPCA” stated Brenda Payne, President of the NSHPCA Board of Directors. “The association has been working tirelessly for over 25 years to improve end of life care for Nova Scotians. The volunteer Board and members are thrilled to be able to move the work of the association to the next level through the dedicated and professional leadership of our first Executive Director.”

“I am still learning” – Michelangelo at age 87
Providing dementia care requires many things: knowledge, empathy, resourcefulness, and the ability to understand the person and adapt to their unique needs. With the number of people with dementia growing, we need to continue to learn so that we are better equipped to respond. We invite you to continue your learning by attending our 22nd Provincial Conference, Alzheimer’s disease… It’s more than you think.
This conference provides the latest in research and care practices that can make a difference. Staff who have attended past conferences state that “Topics relevant, well presented and a good variety”. Please join us November 7 & 8 at the Harbourview Holiday Inn, Dartmouth NS.

We appreciate your help in promoting the conference by:
√ Posting the following information on your web site
√ Displaying the information on your community bulletin board
√ Sending this email by E-bulletin to your contacts
√ Printing the information to your next newsletter

Alzheimer’s disease… It’s more than you think.
Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia’s 22nd Provincial Conference
Date: November 7 & 8 2011
Place: Harbourview Holiday Inn, Dartmouth
For Registration materials or to register online visit: www.alzheimer.ns.ca
or contact: Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia
Tel 422-7961 (HRM) or 1-800-611-6345
Early Bird registration discount available until October 1st

On Jan. 14, 2011, the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association  hosted

‘A Dialogue About Quality End-of-Life Care for Nova Scotians’

The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association (NSHPCA) approved a 3 year Strategic Plan as presented at the 2010 Annual General Meeting. Within the Plan, the importance of building strong partnerships to improve hospice palliative and end- of- life care in Nova Scotia was identified, as well as a  recognition of the ongoing need to raise awareness about death and dying . The resulting work plan identified an action ‘To research the formation of a provincial Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition’, based on the very successful national model. Subsequently a decision was made to hold a Dialogue inviting provincial organizations who would potentially have an interest in end-of-life care for Nova Scotians.  12 provincial organizations participated in the dialogue on January 14th, 2011. Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, and Secretariat for the Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada (QELCCC) was invited to provide the support for the day.

The objectives for the day  were:  to identify the policy/care issues and challenges & begin a dialogue about quality end- of- life care for all Nova Scotians; to hear about the work of the Quality End- of- Life Care Coalition of Canada (QELCCC) and the initial discussions in 3 other provinces; and to consider possible synergies and next steps for Nova Scotians.

Outcome: The organizations present agreed to become a member of a Coalition to be known as the ‘Quality End- of- Life Care Coalition Nova Scotia’ (QELCCNS.) The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association will serve as the Secretariat for the QELCCNS. A  Steering Committee will be formed to draft a Terms of Reference and a Workplan;  and the NSHPCA will set up a meeting of all members to plan next steps, following the distribution of the Terms of Reference and Workplan.

National Advance Care Planning Day

April 12, 2011

www.advancecareplanning.ca

 A lack of knowledge about preferences for care can result in confusion and conflict between family members and health professionals at a critical time

(Ottawa) – Over 25 associations across Canada have joined together to champion April 12^th as National Advance Care Planning Day, a day of awareness and action for Canadians.  The Advance Care Planning National Task Force, a group representing professional organizations and non-governmental groups from across Canada, has developed the “Speak Up: Start the conversation about end-of-life care” campaign to remind Canadians to think about and talk about their wishes for end-of-life-care.

“Most of us hope to die peacefully and able to communicate with others until the very end, but death usually doesn’t occur this way,” says Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) and a member of the Task Group. “Advance care planning helps others make decisions on your behalf when you cannot speak for yourself.”

Advance care planning is a process of reflection and communication about personal care preferences in the event that you become incapable of consenting to or refusing treatment or other care. Your plan may include information about procedures such as CPR and mechanical ventilation, as well as other personal information, such as spiritual preferences or specific wishes for family members or friends. One of the most important aspects of advance care planning is naming and having a conversation with a Substitute Decision Maker – someone who will speak on your behalf and make decisions for you – but only when you are not able to do so yourself.

According to a 2004 poll conducted by Ipso-Reid on behalf of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and GlaxoSmithKline, eight in ten respondents agreed that people should start planning for end of life when they are healthy, however 70% of them had not prepared a plan, and 47% had not designated someone to speak for them if they are unable to communicate. 

A 2008 study found that the absence of Advance Care Planning, in all its forms, was associated with worse patients’ ratings of quality of life in the terminal phase of the illness and worse ratings of satisfaction by the family during the terminal illness or in the months that follow death.

Research also indicates that patients who have end of life conversations with health professionals and family members are much more likely to be satisfied with their care, require fewer aggressive medical interventions at the end of life and are more likely to take advantage of hospice resources or die at home.

The Speak Up campaign includes a website (www.advancecareplanning.ca) with tools to help people start these sometimes difficult conversations, as well as advance care planning resources such as workbooks, wallet cards and links to provincial / territorial legislation and planning information.

“As health care technologies and life saving interventions continue to improve and people live longer – many with complex medical conditions – advance care planning becomes increasingly important,” says Ms. Baxter. “We need to communicate our feelings around the use of certain procedures at the end of life, and what we believe gives our life meaning. These are personal, individual choices that every Canadian deserves at the end of life. Make sure your voice is heard.”

For more information: www.advancecareplanning.ca

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is a national, bilingual charitable non-profit association with membership comprised of individuals and hospice palliative care programs and services from every province and territory. The CHPCA is a member of the National Advance Care Planning Task Group, comprised of representatives from a number of organizations and professions across Canada. The Task Group has collaborated to develop Advance Care Planning in Canada: A National Framework and Implementation and the Speak Up campaign.

-30 –

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(March 23, 2011 – Ottawa, ON) The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) welcomes several initiatives announced yesterday in the federal budget, and encourages the government to build on them so that the needs of dying Canadians and their families can be better served.

Contained in the budget was a commitment for one-time funding of $3 million to help support the development of new community-integrated palliative care models. Each year, more than 259,000 Canadians die. But only 2 or 3 out of 10 receive hospice palliative, or end-of-life care. Even fewer receive support to help them and their families cope with grief and bereavement. Building hospice palliative care into community health care services is an important step toward ensuring that all Canadians have the same access to quality end-of-life care, no matter where they live.

“Quality palliative care is the right of every Canadian, yet not every Canadian can access these services at a time when they and their families need it most,” said Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the CHPCA. “This funding will help to ensure that hospice palliative care is available at the community level for those Canadians who are dying, as well as their families. It will also ensure that it is easily accessible as part of the continuum of care.”

Canada’s population is aging and, combined with increasing numbers of chronic diseases, the demands for hospice palliative care will continue to grow. Seniors make up the fastest-growing age group. In 2003, an estimated 4.6 million Canadians were 65 years of age or older, a number that is expected to double in the next 25 years. By 2041, about one in four Canadians is expected to be 65 or over.

The CHPCA estimates that for every dying Canadian, five other people are affected. Many of these people become caregivers. The CHPCA therefore was pleased with the announcement of a Family Caregiver Tax Credit, as well as the removal of the $10,000 limit on the amount of eligible medical expenses that caregivers can claim for a tax credit.

“More and more Canadians are taking on the role of caregiver for a loved one afflicted with a life-limiting illness,” said Wendy Wainwright, President of the CHPCA. “It is crucial that these people receive adequate support, including financial, for the work that they do. Caring for an infirm or dying loved one is already stressful, even without added financial pressures, yet thousands of Canadians every year are expected to cope with these burdens.”

The initiatives for caregivers in this budget are a good beginning – We encourage the Government of Canada to increasingly find ways to support caregivers in the future as their contribution grows.

For more information on The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan Tax Relief for Caregivers visit The Budget 2011 website at:

http://www.budget.gc.ca/2011/themes/theme3-eng.html 

-30-

For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:

Cheryl Spencer
Administrative Coordinator
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
E-mail:  cspencer@bruyere.org
Phone: 613-241-3663 ext. 229

National Advance Care Planning Day

April 12, 2011

www.advancecareplanning.ca

 A lack of knowledge about preferences for care can result in confusion and conflict between family members and health professionals at a critical time

(Ottawa) – Over 25 associations across Canada have joined together to champion April 12^th as National Advance Care Planning Day, a day of awareness and action for Canadians.  The Advance Care Planning National Task Force, a group representing professional organizations and non-governmental groups from across Canada, has developed the “Speak Up: Start the conversation about end-of-life care” campaign to remind Canadians to think about and talk about their wishes for end-of-life-care.

“Most of us hope to die peacefully and able to communicate with others until the very end, but death usually doesn’t occur this way,” says Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) and a member of the Task Group. “Advance care planning helps others make decisions on your behalf when you cannot speak for yourself.”

Advance care planning is a process of reflection and communication about personal care preferences in the event that you become incapable of consenting to or refusing treatment or other care. Your plan may include information about procedures such as CPR and mechanical ventilation, as well as other personal information, such as spiritual preferences or specific wishes for family members or friends. One of the most important aspects of advance care planning is naming and having a conversation with a Substitute Decision Maker – someone who will speak on your behalf and make decisions for you – but only when you are not able to do so yourself.

According to a 2004 poll conducted by Ipso-Reid on behalf of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and GlaxoSmithKline, eight in ten respondents agreed that people should start planning for end of life when they are healthy, however 70% of them had not prepared a plan, and 47% had not designated someone to speak for them if they are unable to communicate. 

A 2008 study found that the absence of Advance Care Planning, in all its forms, was associated with worse patients’ ratings of quality of life in the terminal phase of the illness and worse ratings of satisfaction by the family during the terminal illness or in the months that follow death.

Research also indicates that patients who have end of life conversations with health professionals and family members are much more likely to be satisfied with their care, require fewer aggressive medical interventions at the end of life and are more likely to take advantage of hospice resources or die at home.

The Speak Up campaign includes a website (www.advancecareplanning.ca) with tools to help people start these sometimes difficult conversations, as well as advance care planning resources such as workbooks, wallet cards and links to provincial / territorial legislation and planning information.

“As health care technologies and life saving interventions continue to improve and people live longer – many with complex medical conditions – advance care planning becomes increasingly important,” says Ms. Baxter. “We need to communicate our feelings around the use of certain procedures at the end of life, and what we believe gives our life meaning. These are personal, individual choices that every Canadian deserves at the end of life. Make sure your voice is heard.”

For more information: www.advancecareplanning.ca

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is a national, bilingual charitable non-profit association with membership comprised of individuals and hospice palliative care programs and services from every province and territory. The CHPCA is a member of the National Advance Care Planning Task Group, comprised of representatives from a number of organizations and professions across Canada. The Task Group has collaborated to develop Advance Care Planning in Canada: A National Framework and Implementation and the Speak Up campaign.

 -30 –