Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization, Inc.
Living with dying, it affects us all.

About the Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization

On this page you will find information on the following:

• What is the THPCO? / Our Mission / Our Objectives
• The History of the THPCO
• Summary of Achievements
• List of Members, Services Offered and Contact Names
• PDF List of Members

What is the THPCO? Our Mission / Our Objectives

What is the Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization Inc.?

The Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization, Inc. (THPCO) is made up of service providers and interested individuals who volunteer to support, coordinate and advocate for the provision of hospice palliative care in the Tantramar area. The Tantramar area includes communities around Cape Tormentine, Port Elgin, Sackville and Dorchester areas of New Brunswick.

Our Mission

The Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization is a collaborative organization that advocates for and supports the provision of hospice palliative care in the Tantramar communities.

Objectives

• To provide the infrastructure for the coordinated delivery of hospice palliative care services.
• To support care providers who offer services to individuals and their loved ones living with a life threatening illness.
• To promote knowledge and awareness of hospice palliative care in the community through various means. This may include: media releases, special events, educational opportunities, posters, memorial services, etc.

The History of The Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization Inc.

In 2003 a small group of interested individuals gathered to discuss hospice palliative care services available in the Tantramar region. All worked in areas providing hospice palliative care services or they had experience caring for a loved one requiring palliative care. The group felt there was a lack of coordinated services in the Tantramar area. They wanted to work together to improve the hospice palliative care provided to individuals in the Tantramar area.

Renaissance Sackville, Quality of Life sector, funded research to establish the base line data for the development, mission and strategic plan of a community based hospice palliative care organization called the Tantramar Hospice Palliative Care Organization. Jane Claxton-Oldfield, summarized the research into a report titled, 'A Report and Inventory of Support Services Available to a Hospice Palliative Care Program in the Tantramar Region' (December 2003).

Summary of Highlighted Achievements

2003

• Formation THPCO committee, creating a broad, community interdisciplinary team.
• Completion of research/report 'A Report and Inventory of Support Services Available to a Hospice Palliative Care Program in the Tantramar Region'.

2004

• Poster presentation of the report at the national conference of Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.
• Development of brochure for the general public of services provided by the members of the organization.
• Financially supported members to attend conferences & workshops.
• Created sub-committees for Media/Publicity, Education, and Grief & Bereavement.
• Organized a Grief & Bereavement workshop for the community.
• Partnered with VON to provide a public information session.
• Provided funding for education to Home Support Workers (VON Palliative Care Training).

2005

• Provided educational presentations to medical students in collaboration with the 'Creative Practice' student exchange.
• Created a library of hospice palliative care resources.

2006

• Hosted a workshop for health care professionals and trained hospice palliative care volunteers on death, dying and bereavement entitled 'It Takes A Village to Say Good-Bye'.
• Created kits of educational resources and distributed to key areas of the community for distribution to individuals and loved ones.
• Developed the THPCO website.
• Incorporated and achieved registered charitable status.
• The THPCO partnered with VON for a community information session 'Reaching Out a Helping Hand-Hospice Palliative Care Services in Tantramar'.

2007

• The THPCO partnered with VON for a community information session 'Reaching Out a Helping Hand-Hospice Palliative Care Services in Tantramar'.

2008

• Hosted eighty-five health care professionals from throughout the Maritimes for a workshop entitled “Being the Best We Can Be” with author Liz Crocker.
• Held a public presentation, "The Power of Health Care Stories to Inspire Change"
  with author and facilitator, Liz Crocker.
• Officially launched the THPCO website was with the cutting of a virtual ribbon.
• The first grief & bereavement workshop was held in the spring. Ten participants attended the six week program.

2010

• Created a Facebook page

List of Members, Services Offered and Contact Names

Clinical Nurse Specialist: Patty McQuinn

Phone: (506) 867-5468
Email: pamcquin@serha.ca

A resource person with Extra Mural to provide direction to information in collaboration with other community based resources. Works with interdisciplinary teams to address disease management and the physical, emotional, financial, psychological, social, spiritual impact on the palliative client and their family.

Community Representative: Jane Claxton-Oldfield

Phone: (506) 536-0382

Community representatives are additional contacts for people seeking information or resources in the community.

Community Representative: Audrey Hicks

Phone: (506) 536-1064

Community representatives are additional contacts for people seeking information or resources in the community.

Grief and Bereavement Peer Support Group: Audrey Hicks or Lesley Read

Phone: (596) 536-1064 or (506) 536-0824

A grief and bereavement peer support group is available twice a year (Spring and Fall) for anyone living in the Tantramar area who has experienced the death of a loved one. The group is run by volunteers and meets once a week for 8 weeks. The group provides information, shares feelings, and helps each other work toward the positive resolution of their grief in a confidential and supportive setting.

Extra Mural Program: Marlene Hueston

Nurses, dietitians, palliative care clinical nurse specialist, occupational and physiotherapists, respiratory therapists and social workers provide all aspects of palliative care in the home and community. Equipment and supplies for use in home as well as educational material in the form of books, videos and pamphlets are available.

Meals and More: Susan Kastuk-Ridlington

Phone: (506) 536-8102
Email: meals@nbnet.nb.ca

Dietitian can arrange for home delivery of frozen meals for individuals and their care givers. Meals are also available in minced or pureed texture.

Red Cross: Heather Longpre

Phone: (506) 364-8813
Email: heather.longpre@redcross.ca
Office: Located in Sackville Memorial Hospital.
It is open 8:30-12:30 & 1:30-4:30, Monday to Friday.

Provide homemakers who offer a variety of services to help take care of the family and the home. Health equipment is able for loan. A hot meal delivery service, called 'Meals to Seniors' is available to anyone in need (not just seniors).

Sackville Memorial Hospital: Rob Zwicker

Phone: (506) 364- 4100
Email: rozwicke@serha.ca

Nurses, social worker, dietitian, doctors, pharmacist, occupational, physiotherapist and respiratory therapists provide a multidisciplinary approach to palliative care. A suite, called the Serinity Room, is available for families to overnight with their loved one.

The United Church Home for Senior Citizens - Drew Nursing Home: Linda Leroux

Phone: (506) 364-4900

The staff provide 24-hour nursing/palliative care. A relief bed may be available when nursing care is needed for short periods of time.

VON Sackville: Deb Gillespie

Phone: (506) 536-0750

Registered nurse provides home visits and foot care clinics. The Palliative Care Volunteer Program provides volunteers to offer comfort, support and compassion to individuals and their loved ones. These volunteers provide companionship, assist with errands, pet care, outings, and may also be able to offer short-term respite for caregivers. Books and videos may be borrowed.

Westford Nursing Home: Nancy Burridge

Phone: (506) 538-1307
Email: n.burridge@nb.aibn.com

The staff provide 24-hour nursing/palliative care. There are family rooms available for loved ones to stay overnight. A relief bed may be available when nursing care is needed for short periods of time. A limited supply of equipment is available for short-term loans to the community.

PDF List of Members

Download the THPCO List of Members in PDF format (145 KB).

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