Frequently Asked Questions

An individual is eligible for Bethell Hospice community services anytime throughout the trajectory of a life-limiting illness, anytime through a caregiver experience, and anytime during a bereavement experience. Our community services are available to those living in Caledon, Brampton or Dufferin County.

Anyone can request the support of our Community Program by contacting Bethell Hospice. Individuals can self-refer. Service providers can also refer. Referrals can be made by completing the online referral form on the Bethell Hospice website, or by contacting our Psychosocial Spiritual Care Team Lead, Natalie Talma, at 905-452-4979 or ntalma@bethellhospice.org

During intake of a new referral, our staff will request some basic information regarding the person seeking service, including name, address, contact phone number, and date of birth, as well as ensuring consent has been obtained to. If the individual is living with a life-limiting illness, we will also ask for details about the individual’s general medical condition, diagnosis and prognosis. If the individual is a caregiver or is grieving, we will ask for details about their experience. The Psychosocial Spiritual Care Lead will then contact the individual to discuss their situation and service needs, complete an assessment and assign a service provider.

Social Work and Spiritual Care support requests within the community program are first screened through the Psychosocial Spiritual Care Team Lead, who then assigns a service provider from the team to the client. This provider will make initial contact to introduce themselves and discuss next steps. Often an in-home assessment is completed by the assigned service provider, to determine service needs and fully explain all of the available community programs and services. This process is occasionally completed over the phone or video call.

A Social Worker from Bethel Hospice can provide you with a safe and confidential space to talk about any concerns you may be facing in the midst of a life-limiting illness, caregiver or bereavement experience. Social Workers not only provide supportive counselling, but can also assist with practical needs such as completing financial aid applications, getting connected with home care services, and engaging in advanced care planning.

A Spiritual Care Provider from Bethell Hospice can provide you with a safe and confidential space to talk about your spiritual pain in the midst of life-limiting illness, grief, loss, bereavement and death. Spiritual Care Providers can also assist with the arrangement of spiritual needs, facilitate connections with religious leaders and faith communities, and provide assistance with after-life rituals, memorials and funerals.

No, Bethell Hospice supports and affirms all types of spiritual expressions, religious or faith practices, and personal relationships, including connecting with art, music, nature, self and others. We respect your, beliefs and values. Spiritual Care often does not involve a religious conversation, but rather takesan integrative counselling direction with a focus on relationships with self, others and the meaning of an experience. We strive to put people in touch with their strengths, resilience and the things that are most important and valuable to them.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, there is no cost to access programs and services at Bethell Hospice.

Advance care planning is a process that enables individuals to make plans about their future health care. Advance care plans provide direction to healthcare professionals when a person is not in a position to make and/or communicate their own healthcare choices. Participation in advance care planning has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety for patients and their families, and lead to improvements in end of life care. Advanced care planning involves confirming your Substitute Decision Maker(s) and communicating your wishes, values and beliefs about care to help your SDM(s) make health and personal care decisions for you if you become unable to do it for yourself.

Examples of Advanced Care Planning are:

• Having conversations with your loved ones about your wishes, values and beliefs
• Making a will & estate document
• Signing a power of attorney for personal care & property
• Pre-arranging a funeral and other after-death care

Yes, the Social Workers are available and able to assist with advanced care planning. The team can provide you with helpful resources to facilitate the process including informational brochures and workbooks. Print resources are available. Several resources are also linked to this webpage.

POA (Personal Care-Property) Ontario User Guide

POA (Personal Care-Property) Ontario Form

ACP_Ont_workbook_2018_Eng

Please refer to the following resources for valuable information applicable to Ontario:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzxrIOAzutw

https://vimeo.com/265398323