Delivery of Palliative and End-of-Life Care Services

Where Can People Receive Services?

Palliative and end-of-life care takes place in various settings, such as a hospital, long-term care facility (e.g., nursing home), home or hospice. A person with a life-threatening illness may receive care in several different settings throughout his or her illness. The  National Directory of Hospice Palliative Care Services, located on the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) website, provides information on palliative and end-of-life care services available throughout the country.

Who Provides Services?

An interdisciplinary team of caregivers usually provides palliative and end-of-life care services. The team may include nurses, physicians, social workers, spiritual advisors, bereavement support workers, trained volunteers, and informal caregivers such as family members, who work to meet the needs of the patient, family and loved ones.

Communities, the private sector and/or government may support the provision of palliative and end-of-life care services. Therefore, the services available and how they are funded may vary depending on the community in which you live.

How Are Governments Involved?

Different levels of government provide palliative and end-of-life care services:

Provincial/Territorial governments

The provinces and territories are responsible for delivering most health care services to their residents, including palliative and end-of-life care. The federal government provides funding to provinces and territories through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) to support them in organizing and delivering health services for their residents. More information about the health care services provided by provinces and territories can be accessed through provincial and territorial health ministries

Federal government

The federal government is responsible for providing direct health care services to a number of groups, including First Nations and Inuit peoples, veterans, active members of the Canadian Forces, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), refugees and federal inmates. Information about health care services for these groups, including palliative and end-of life care services where applicable, can be accessed through the following links.

• First Nations and Inuit peoples (Health Canada)
•  Veterans (Veterans Affairs Canada)
•  Active members of the Canadian Forces (Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces)
•  Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) (Veterans Affairs Canada on behalf of the RCMP)
•  Refugees (Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
•  Federal inmates (Correctional Service of Canada)