Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care
St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake (SJGHEL) provides palliative care in collaboration with the patient, family, and Palliative Care Services.
SJGHEL promotes an integrated model of care for palliative and end-of-life care, while promoting and enhancing the continuity and quality of care for individuals and their families, through seamless transitions of care. Palliative care is life affirming and regards dying as a natural part of the human journey. Our Hospital provides quality palliative care with cultural sensitivity, meeting the needs of patients and families.
Hospice Care is recognized as the type of care that is provided to support individuals and families at any stage of a life-limiting illness. The goal is to provide the management of pain and other symptoms to achieve comfort, reduce suffering and improve the quality of life. We believe patients should be able to obtain end-of-life care in the setting of their choice: whether that be in Hospital or if they wish to return home for end-of-life care, all efforts will be made to transition the patient home.
Our Medical Surgical unit offers two Palliative Care rooms, and one Hospice Suite which is equipped with a sleep couch, kitchenette, TV, and beautiful view of Elliot Lake.
End of Life Care
We know end of life conversations are very difficult, but they are important. If your family member is not responding to life-supporting treatment and is believed to have an irreversible disease, a discussion should take place between your family and the health-care team regarding withholding any additional life-support. If death or a very poor quality of life is expected to the be the outcome of the illness and your family decides to withdraw or withhold further treatment, the health care team will meet with you to navigate how you would like to say goodbye to your loved one.
All decisions to limit treatment are made following careful consideration of your loved one’s medical condition and following discussions with your family and a Physician. The comfort of the patient is always our main priority.
Organ & Tissue Donation
If it is determined that your family member is not able to survive their current critical illness, the Trillium Gift of Life Network can offer an opportunity to donate your loved one’s organs and tissues. This donation may help others in need and provide meaning for your family at a time of sadness and loss. If you have any questions please ask your health care team to arrange for the Trillium coordinator to connect and discuss this option with you.
Resources
- Virtual Hospice
Information and support on palliative and end-of life care, loss, and grief. - Cancer Care Ontario Palliative Care Tools
Best-practice tools from around the world to support primary care providers in the delivery of palliative care. - Speak Up Ontario
Materials and resources about advance care planning. Speak Up Ontario is an initiative of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario to improve awareness of Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning in the Province of Ontario. Ontario has unique requirements with respect to Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning and this website focuses on providing information, tolls, and resources specific to the Ontario legal context. - Trillium Gift of Life Network
Trillium Gift of Life Network, part of Ontario Health, is responsible for delivering and coordinating organ and tissue donation and transplantation services across the province, as well as for planning, promoting and supporting all health care and allied professionals, advocates and the Ontario public in fulfilling their shared and integrated responsibilities in saving the lives of Ontarians waiting for a life-saving transplant.