Talk about palliative care, Yukon man tells election candidates

A Yukon man, whose father is dying of cancer, says votersneedto hear more from their election candidates about palliative care.

Jorgen Ponsioen's father was diagnosed with cancer lastsummer.After a stint in Vancouver at a cancer clinic, his father is now at the Whitehorse General Hospital.

"We're at the point today where the end is near," Ponsioen said.

He says he'spleased with the care his father is receiving, but feels the Whitehorse hospital should have dedicated palliative beds or a palliative wing.

"These people in the final stage of life, they need a nice quiet place, they can't be stuck in a surgical ward or a medical ward."

"When you're in that stage of life, you want to rest, there's a lot of sleep going on, you're at peace with your thoughts, it needs to be a separate area, just like a maternity ward is."

He says palliative care is not something many people think about until it's needed,but he hopes voters will ask their candidates about it at the door.

Ponsioensays some candidates have reached out to him to talk about the issue.

None of the parties' official platforms makespecific mention of palliative care, but all refer to options for seniors' care, such as assisted living.

The Yukon Party promises the completion of the continuing care facility in Whistle Bend, with the Liberals promising to keep thatfacility at 150 beds (the Yukon Party has said the facility may be later expanded to 300 beds).

The Liberal platform also promises to "find solutions that offer alternatives and transitions between home care and full-time continuing care."

The NDP refer to a "continuum of health and housing options" for seniors, including new independent living and supported living spaces. The Yukon Party also supports a new independent housing facility in Whitehorse, and new seniors' residences in Haines Junction.

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Care across all settings needed, says palliative care doctor

DanusiaKanachowski, a palliative care doctor in the Yukon, agrees that it's time to start talking more about end-of-lifecare.

She notes Yukon's population is aging, people are living longer, and care gets more complex near the end of life.

"We really need to be able to do care across all settings. We need increased home care to support people being able to die at home if they so wish.We need beds within acute care because some people have complex needs."

If people are in long term care, she would like to see the ability for people to stay there as well, "because it is like their home."

The Whistle Bend facility is designed tohave a hospice palliative care unit, but Kanachowski says she's heardfrom families who are concerned about the facility's location, which is removed from the city's downtown and Riverdale, where the hospital is.

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"If people need imaging, like X-rays, CT scans, things like that which we only use if appropriate, and if it will help people be more comfortable the travel in an ambulance is very uncomfortable for people," she said.

She suggests the Thomson Centre, adjacent to the Whitehorse hospital, might be a good location for more palliative care beds, or the hospital itself, for more acute complex care beds, "where people do not have to get moved."