With an end goal of improving palliative care in the Bow Valley, a new group is looking to establish itself as a non-profit society and begin fundraising and awareness campaigns.
At this point, the newly formed Palliative Care Society of the Bow Valley (PCSBV), “is working to develop comprehensive palliative care in the Bow Valley,” said member Dr. Martin Tweeddale, a retired doctor who practiced in Newfoundland, Quebec and B.C.
Along with awareness and fundraising, the group also hopes to create a palliative care centre, “for those at the end of their lives,” said Tweeddale. “Many people can’t manage at home and most end up in the hospital, which is not where people should be at that time.”
The group also wants to see a hospice featuring palliative care, “to make a person’s last few days as comfortable as possible. We’d also like to see an outpatient facility where the focus would not be on end of life, but symptom control and emotional and spiritual support.
“We’ll also want to develop a strong volunteer corps.”
Thus far, said Tweeddale, about 20 volunteers have been working together for about 18 months on the PCSBV project. The group hopes to have charitable status in spring, then begin fundraising.
“I think it will take several years to have an actual facility,” said Tweeddale. “There is some palliative care in the valley, Banff and Canmore hospitals have a palliative care bed and community nurses do substantial work, but it’s not enough.
“And this is not just about the elderly dying. We won’t be working with children, but this would cover all diseases, not simply cancer.
“At the moment, it’s visionary, but if you don’t have a dream, you can’t do it.”
To support palliative care, visit the Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association at http://ahpca.ca.
