Promising Practices for Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care
The promising practice summaries were created to profile leading innovative equity-oriented palliative care models from across the country. These summaries offer details about:
how the promising practice works
partnerships and collaborations
evaluation and impacts
lessons learned, including enablers and challenges
- Topics
- Health Equity
- Primary and community care
- Audience
Quality or safety improvement lead
Healthcare leader
Community organization
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Promising Practices for Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care
Many current models of palliative care are not prepared to meet the needs of people who are vulnerably housed, staying in shelters or living in outdoor spaces. The healthcare system can make inequities worse as people who are already structurally vulnerable can experience stigma, discrimination and racism when accessing care. There are often barriers to diagnosis, treatment and support needs, which means that health conditions that could be preventable or treatable may become life threatening.
In response, communities across Canada have designed innovative models of equity-oriented palliative care to improve access to safe and high-quality palliative care for those experiencing structural vulnerabilities. These models ensure care is delivered in a timely way, help reduce emergency department visits and hospital admissions and allow people to receive care with dignity in their environment of their choice.
Why this work matters
The health outcomes of people experiencing homelessness are in stark contrast to the general population, with substantially greater risk of disease, morbidity and mortality. The Federal Action Plan on Palliative Care highlights the importance of taking action to improve access to palliative care for underserved populations, including improving access to culturally safe and appropriate care. Equity-oriented care recognizes system barriers and seeks to address them to ensure access to high-quality care.
CAMPP (Calgary, AB)
Through collaborative partnerships with AHS Calgary Zone, CUPS, and other agencies, CAMPP delivers adaptive, outreach-based services including intensive case management, appointment assistance, relationship-building, advocacy and navigation support. They focus on providing compassionate, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed and harm reduction-based care, supporting more equitable access and breaking down barriers for those in need.
Diane Morrison Hospice (Ottawa, ON)
The Diane Morrison Hospice is a 21-bed hospice offering palliative and end-of-life care for people experiencing homelessness. Their model of care provides 24-hour/day palliative nursing care, emotional, cultural and spiritual support and dignity.
George’s House (Edmonton, AB)
George's House offers a secure, communal-living environment in a quiet neighborhood for those nearing end of life and facing the risk of houselessness. With capacity to assist up to five clients, residents receive 24-hour care in a home-like setting, complemented by in-reach clinical support, and dedicated services from George Spady staff and Alberta Health Services Palliative Care specialists.
Kensington Hospice (Toronto, ON)
Kensington Hospice is a 19-bed in-patient hospice. It is part of Kensington Health, a community organization that includes long-term care, hospice care, community care and ambulatory care services. The Hospice’s day-to-day operations are built upon a health equity and health justice approach; this is a model of care called “Radical Love.”
Maison du Père (Montreal, QC)
Maison du Père is a shelter for men experiencing homelessness. In addition to its emergency shelter, it has a 10-bed convalescent unit that includes two beds for palliative care and two for end-of-life care. A key objective is to reintegrate people into housing, including Maison du Père’s long-term care residence, while continuing to provide palliative care to these clients.
Medavie Community Paramedicine (Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care – Wellness Clinics) (Saskatoon, SK)
Medavie delivers a palliative approach to clients within the community, where the clients direct their own care. It offers Wellness Clinics in spaces where clients already are, such as the John Howard Society. These Wellness Clinics with community paramedics take place three times a week and can involve anything from checking vital signs, assessing a wound and connecting the client to other healthcare and community care services.
Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy Team (PCOAT) (Edmonton, AB)
PCOAT provides services to socially vulnerable people, providing patient-centred and equitable palliative care. The team builds relationships to develop and implement a delivery model for palliative care that is primarily informed by community members.
Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy Team (PCOAT) (Edmonton, AB)
PCOAT provides services to socially vulnerable people, providing patient-centred and equitable palliative care. The team builds relationships to develop and implement a delivery model for palliative care that is primarily informed by community members.
Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy Team (PCOAT) (Edmonton, AB)
PCOAT provides services to socially vulnerable people, providing patient-centred and equitable palliative care. The team builds relationships to develop and implement a delivery model for palliative care that is primarily informed by community members.
Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy Team (PCOAT) (Edmonton, AB)
PCOAT provides services to socially vulnerable people, providing patient-centred and equitable palliative care. The team builds relationships to develop and implement a delivery model for palliative care that is primarily informed by community members.
Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy Team (PCOAT) (Edmonton, AB)
PCOAT provides services to socially vulnerable people, providing patient-centred and equitable palliative care. The team builds relationships to develop and implement a delivery model for palliative care that is primarily informed by community members.