The critical role of palliative care homes

My mother was diagnosed with cancer in December. She died in April. In those four short months, the family had to come to terms with the shock of the diagnosis, watch our mother fade and suffer, and grieve and support her in her. The first three months were spent in hospital, trying various treatments, but when nothing worked, she got a spot at a palliative care home in Sudbury, Ontario.

It was an enormous relief to be there. They were supportive to her and the whole family. They were kind, compassionate and frank. They kept my mother as comfortable as possible and provided counselling. They offered the family everything we needed to get through the hardship, to make peace with the process as best we could.

I believe palliative care centres are really important. They demystify death, they help us (patient and family) prepare and accept. They allow death to happen in a warm, nurturing, peaceful and comfortable environment.