FAQs

Community hospices provide programs and services that enhance the quality of life for individuals living with a life-threatening illness and still reside in their homes in the community. Community hospices do not have beds for end of life care and residential hospices do.

Palliative Care programs were originally developed primarily within larger healthcare institutions, and hospice care developed within the community as free-standing, primarily volunteer programs.  Over time, these programs gradually evolved to a cohesive movement that aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for those who are living with, or dying from, any illness.

To recognize the convergence of hospice and palliative care into one movement, and their common norms of practice, the term “hospice palliative care” was coined.

Hospice palliative care is appropriate for any patient / client and or family affected by a life-threatening illness due to any diagnosis, with any prognosis, regardless of age.

Hospice Waterloo Region offers all programs and services to residents of the Region of Waterloo at no charge.

The referral process for community service is different than referral for a hospice bed in the Cook Family Residence.

You or anyone you know (family, friend, healthcare professional) can refer you to Hospice Waterloo Region for community services (i.e., Day Away Program, Complementary Therapies). If someone is calling on your behalf to make a referral for service, you must give them permission before a Hospice representative can start the intake process.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in having their end-of-life journey inside the Cook Family Residence, the referral for a hospice bed must come from your medical care team (physician, nurse, social worker).

Hospice volunteers submit to a rigorous screening and training process. All Client Support, Organizational and Youth Volunteer applicants must attend a screening interview and provide references before being accepted into the training program. Please visit the Volunteer Section of the website for more details!