Palliative care… so much more than end-of-life care!
Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life, reducing symptoms, and helping people with serious illness make decisions. It can also provide support to those who are grieving after the death of a loved one.
MYTH! … Palliative care is end-of-life care
Palliative care is so much more than end-of-life care
A palliative approach to care can help people and their loved ones anywhere on their journey with a serious illness. We can help you adopt a palliative approach to care with information, resources and education.
Education:
Gain Palliative Skills (GPS) Learning Pathway – New to palliative care? this training is for you! BC Centre for Palliative Care
Videos & info sheets:
Palliative Care Info Sheet: WHAT is Palliative Care? Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
Shift your care to a palliative approach (4:29) Video explaining a palliative approach in home care, long-term care and acute care settings. Palliative Approaches in Aging & Community Health (2024)
Palliative approach infographic for nurses iPANEL
Palliative care information for physicians Canadian Medical Association palliative care policy (2016)
Check out your local health authority for information on palliative care in your area:
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- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Northern Health
- Fraser Health
- Island Health
- Interior Health
- First Nations Health Authority
- Providence Health also see Dignity Throughout the Health Care Journey event they are hosting May 9, 2025
MYTH! … Talking about palliative care feels like giving up hope
Palliative care is communicating in ways to honour patients’ goals and wishes
Great care starts with conversations. Below are training opportunities and resources to help you get the most out of conversations with your patients and families.
Clinical practice tool:
Serious Illness Conversation Guide BC Centre for Palliative Care and partners
Course:
Culturally Safe Advance Care Planning BC Centre for Palliative Care
Video & handout:
What matters to you? (1:32) – Health Quality BC
3 Questions to ask yourself that make difficult conversations about serious illness easier Health Canada (2024)
MYTH! … Palliative care means there’s nothing more to do
Palliative care helps people live their best quality of life, for the rest of their life
A palliative approach to care helps to manage symptoms and prepare for changes when it comes to a journey with serious illness.
Resources
Symptom Management Guidelines BC Centre for Palliative Care
Helping improve quality of life video Health Canada
Fact sheet:
Palliative care fact sheet: WHEN is palliative care? Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
MYTH! … Palliative care is only for specialists
Everyone – in any care setting – can help provide a palliative
approach to care
A palliative approach to care can be provided by any member of the care team:
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- primary health care providers, such as:
- family doctors
- nurse practitioners
- volunteers
- caregivers
- nurses
- social workers
- personal support workers
- members of the community
- primary health care providers, such as:
Training and resources for the whole team:
Strengthen Your Core! Domain 5: Care Planning and Collaborative Practice BC Centre for Palliative Care
Palliative Competencies BC Centre for Palliative Care
Palliative care brochure (generalist and specialist care providers) Health Canada
MYTH! … Palliative care ends when death occurs
Palliative care can span from diagnosis through to grief and bereavement support
Palliative care continues after a death with grief and bereavement supports. Education and helpline supports can help you navigate this time.
Grief & Bereavement Literacy ECHO series BC Centre for Palliative Care
- explore our upcoming sessions and past sessions
Education
Grief helplines and support
- British Columbia Bereavement Helpline
- Crisis Centre of BC
- S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Helpline
- Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society
Indigenous grief helplines and support
Want more information on a palliative approach to care?
- Health care provider resources
- Subscribe to CentrePoint, BCCPC’s monthly newsletter, for updates on our current initiatives, research, resources and educational opportunities.
