A Call to Action for National Hospice Palliative Care Week
Palliative Care Everywhere: A Call to Action for Access, Equity, and Continuity in Canada
Published for National Hospice Palliative Care Week (May 3-9, 2026)
A joint article by CHPCA and CHCA
“… despite its proven benefits, access to palliative care in Canada remains inconsistent. Recent national data indicates that just over half (58%) of Canadians who died in 2021-2022 received some form of palliative care, and for many, that care was introduced very late in the course of illness (CIHI, 2023).
Early and integrated palliative care not only improves quality of life, but also reduces avoidable hospital admissions, lengths of stay, and pressure on acute care systems (CIHI, 2023). However, in Canada, half of patients die within just 22 days of being identified as palliative, highlighting how often care is introduced too late to fully benefit patients and families (CIHI, 2023). These gaps highlight a fundamental issue: while the philosophy of palliative care is widely accepted, the reality of delivering it “everywhere” is still out of reach for many.”
To read full article:
https://www.chpca.ca/blog/palliative-care-everywhere-a-call-to-action-for-access-equity-and-continuity-in-canada/
#chpca; #canadianhospicepalliativecareassociation; #emilyshouse; #childrenshospice; #philipazizcentre; #communityhospice; #hospiceontario; #volunteer; #volunteertoronto
