At the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, palliative and end-of-life care are provided:
- At home;
- In palliative care residences;
- In long-term care centres (CHSLD);
- In hospitals.
Palliative and end-of-life care aims to improve the quality of life of people suffering from a serious illness, and their loved ones, by meeting their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. The care and services provided are intended to preserve the patient’s autonomy for as long as possible, while respecting their decisions, wishes and beliefs.
Our worker teams up with the patient and their loved ones to help make them as comfortable as possible. The team provides support and assistance through all stages of the illness, the patient’s death, and the bereavement process.
Click here for a list of facilities that offer these services.
Who are these services for?
Palliative and end-of-life care (PEOLC) is for people of all ages, with all conditions, who are in the preterminal or terminal stage of an incurable disease. The care and services are adapted to the patient’s needs, preferences and values, in accordance with their wishes. PEOLC is offered according to the integrated palliative approach, which promotes collaboration between professionals and shared decision-making with the patient and their loved ones.
At-home palliative care
After assessing the person’s needs, CLSC workers will provide palliative and end-of-life care to people who want to stay at home for as long as possible. This option is preferred for as long as home care remains possible and safe for the person and their loved ones.
Care and services provided:
- Medical follow-up;
- Nursing care;
- Hygiene and comfort care;
- Psychosocial support for the patient and informal caregivers;
- Respiratory therapy;
- Occupational therapy;
- Nutrition services;
- Physiotherapy;
- Complementary assistance program;
- Equipment loans;
- Support and respite for informal caregivers;
- Training workshops for informal caregivers.
Institution-based palliative care
Palliative and end-of-life care is available at all times in our institutions, namely at:
- Long-term care centres (CHSLDs) and senior and alternative housing (SAH) for residents;
- Hospitals for inpatients.
We also have dedicated beds for palliative and end-of-life care patients, with an approach tailored to their condition.
To access palliative care resources, speak to a home care worker or a hospital staff member.
Whether home- or institution-based, the services can be provided by:
- Care teams made up of nurses, auxiliary nurses, patient attendants, or health and social services assistants;
- Teams of professionals: occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists, and spiritual care professionals;
- Volunteers;
- Nurse consultants in palliative care.
Spiritual care professionals can also help you achieve a measure of inner peace, from a religious or non-religious perspective.
Note that the services may differ depending on the location.
Act respecting end-of-life care
Introduced on December 10, 2015, the Act respecting end-of-life care establishes certain obligations for healthcare institutions.
People who meet the criteria stipulated in the Act and who submit a request can obtain medical aid in dying (MAID), either at home, at the hospital, or in one of the dedicated PEOLC beds.
Requests for MAID must be submitted to the attending physician, who will begin the process according to the steps set out in the Act.
Users can also receive continuous palliative sedation (CPS) in all care settings, according to the criteria in the Act.
For more information about the Act respecting end-of-life care, visit the Gouvernement du Québec’s Portail santé mieux-être and speak to a worker.
Documentation available
- Directives médicales anticipées (lois) (french)
- Medical assistance in dying
- Soins de confort en fin de vie
- Accompagner les enfants dans un contexte d'aide médicale à mourir (french)
- Niveaux de soins (french)
- Ressources en deuil (french)
- Deuil en contexte de pandémie (french)
- Droits des personnes en fin de vie (french)
- Continuous palliative sedation
- Ces derniers moments (french)