Scarborough Palliative Care Community Team expands

SCARBOROUGH, ON, Oct. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) has expanded the Scarborough Community Hospice Program as a partner in the Ontario government's Palliative Care Community Teams (PCCT). PCCTs link individuals and families to palliative services throughout Scarborough and enable clients to die safely in the place of their choice.

The PCCT program – funded by the Central East Local Health Integration Network – is a partnership between SCHC, Providence Healthcare, the Central East Community Care Access Centre, Rouge Valley Health System, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Carefirst Seniors and Community Services, The Scarborough Hospital, the East GTA Family Health Team, and the Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultants.

"SCHC and our partners are dedicated to increasing access to quality hospice palliative care in Scarborough," said Kim Cook, Vice President of Community Health and Chief Professional Practice at SCHC.

"We know that most people who are given a diagnosis of a progressive, life-limiting illness want to be at home, in their communities and receive compassionate, respectful care that allows them to live fully with dignity."

Together with the community partners, SCHC will provide eligible individuals and families with access to a suite of holistic health services. This will include specialized medical support for anyone who has been diagnosed with a progressive, life-limiting illness at any point in the course of a person's illness from initial diagnosis to post-death bereavement support. In addition to specialized medical support, hospice palliative care provides ongoing emotional, social, and spiritual support to individuals, as well as caregiving respite and support to family members and friends.

Cook emphasizes that "palliative care means a lot more than just end of life care and maintaining the best quality of life at any point in the illness trajectory is an important part of these services. With the right support, and information, caring for someone to the end of life can be manageable and meaningful for all involved."

For more information about SCHC's Community Hospice Program and the PCCT, contact Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities at 416-847-4111, or visit www.schcontario.ca.

Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) is a multi-service health agency with over 35 years' history in serving individuals and families in Scarborough. The organization owes its beginnings to 13 community agencies, a core group of community leaders and countless volunteers who identified emerging health and social needs within Scarborough.

SOURCE Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities

Media Contact: Kim Cook, Vice President Community Health & Chief Professional Practice, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, [email protected], 416-847-4092