Hospice and end-of-life care should be available to every Alberta resident, regardless of their respective income or place of residency.
As such, the provincial government and its stakeholder partners should and must make a renewed effort to provide enhanced funding for the vital service, particularly in rural districts and communities.
Members of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta Association (RMA), including municipalities in this district, recently passed a resolution regarding public funding of hospice services.
Specifically, the resolution called on the government of Alberta to “implement a sustainable operational funding model for the provision of hospice services by community hospice societies across the province.”
In following up on the resolution, the association commissioned a report into hospice and end-of-life care.
Key report findings released recently include that most community hospice societies are currently funded through donations, grants, and clinical funding agreements with Alberta Health Services.
- RELATED: Sundre Palliative Care Association volunteers help with end-of life care amidst rural shortage
The report also found that with 79 per cent of current hospice spaces being in Calgary and Edmonton, rural Albertans have fewer hospice and palliative care beds per 100,000 people than their urban counterparts.
At the same time, rural Alberta is aging more quickly and has higher mortality rates, while also having lower density and less access to specialized end-of-life services.
“The RMA’s position on hospice care and end-of-life care is that rural Albertans should not have to compromise or decide between leaving their community to access all available and specialized end-of-life care services in their home community without the same support,” the association said.
The RMA says it is willing to work with the provincial government to develop a funding model that “adequately funds clinical hospice care and grief and bereavement programs, carefully considers key principles and flexibility in light of changing population needs and offers financial transparency and accountability.”
The provincial government should make a concerted effort in 2025 to address the disparity in end-of-life care currently seen between rural and urban communities. Anything less would be a disservice to rural Albertans.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
