MIKE ATHEY
SHAWVILLE Nov. 4, 2020
End of life care is never easy, but it’s become even more difficult at the Pontiac Hospital as a support group has been asked to stay away due to the pandemic.
Since February, volunteers at the hospital’s palliative care unit have operated in limbo; they await approval by the CISSSO to resume operations.
“It’s very sad,” said coordinator Carole Valin, “I feel bad about it, but I guess it’s a strict rule.”
Valin said there is a hope that by Christmas, they will be able to . . .
return to the hospital but there are no signs to indicate that.
Pre-COVID, volunteers would typically spend four hour shifts at the hospital meeting with palliative patients and provide support, though that sometimes would slow down in the winter months.
They had a small corner set up with books, tea and coffee, and music to share with patients.
Before the shutdown, shifts were divided between 30 and 35 volunteers, but most of them are retired and over the age of 65. Valin said that even if they do get access to the hospital, she worries that some of them might not return for safety reasons.
“I haven’t really done a poll, but I think I’d probably not be surprised by the results,” said Valin, “At least half of our residents might be quite reticent about going in.”
Valin, and her husband Rick, took over leadership of the organization around three years ago when the founder of the organization, Shirley Green stepped down. The unit has operated at the hospital since 2006 and was designed to support overworked nursing staff with palliative care support.
“A lot of time it wasn’t just helping with the patients that were passing away. Just being there for the families who just needed to talk. They’re not getting any of that,” said Valin.
