Facts & Questions
Q: What does 'Hospice' mean?
A: The word "Hospice" describes a philosophy of care for persons nearing the end of life and their family. This approach to care focuses on comfort care (also called palliative care) and the support of meaningful living for the patient and family until death occurs. Although some people think of Hospice as a building or a place where people go to live out their final days, hospice palliative care services are provided in numerous settings, including at home.
Q: What is the Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA)?
A: The Central Okanagan Hospice Association is a non-profit organization that provides trained volunteers to offer emotional, spiritual, social and practical support to people living with a terminal illness and to their families. COHA also provides bereavement support and counselling.
Q: What services are offered by COHA?
A: Hospice Volunteers are available to work with patients in their homes, at Kelowna General Hospital, residential care facilities and at the Central Okanagan Hospice House. Volunteers are matched and assigned one-to-one to provide support for the person and their family in the home.
Bedside Vigil service is available to support the family of the actively dying person, to offer respite during their own vigilance and to act as a guide for families. Volunteers are on call to provide support where it is needed, at the hospital, in the home or an extended care facility.
Bereavement support and counseling is offered as well as a Children's Program and an Adult Grief Group.
COHA's Margaret MacNeill Library, located at the Central Okanagan Hospice House, is very extensive. Books, DVD's, and CD's can be borrowed free of charge, for a period of three weeks. Volunteers will assist people in finding material that matches their needs.
Q: What is the difference between COHA and the Central Okanagan Hospice Palliative Care Program?
A: The Central Okanagan Hospice Palliative Care Program is a service of Interior Health and admission to the program is initiated by the patient's doctor. The Interior Health PCRN (intake) team reviews the Doctor's request based on key admission critieria.
The admitted patient is assigned residence by Interior Health at either a long term care facility, Kelowna General Hospital, Central Okanagan Hospice House (an Interior Health facility), or the patient may live at home.
COHA is a partner in the provision of services through volunteers. Our volunteers are a key component of the Hospice Palliative Care Program providing patients with support wherever they are located. COHA also provides Vigil services through volunteers as well as bereavement support through volunteers and trained professional staff.
Q: Who are the COHA Hospice volunteers?
A: Compassionate members of the community who are involved because they care. Often, they too have experienced personal loss. Volunteers make a commitment to contribute a minimum of four hours per week for at least one year. They have completed 40 hours of initial education and commit to attending quarterly volunteer enrichment sessions.
Q: How are the COHA volunteers screened and accepted?
A: Volunteers are interviewed, provide three personal references, and agree to a criminal record search. They also successfully complete a 40 hour training course.
Q: When should a decision about support be made and who should make the decision?
A: At any time during a life-limiting illness, it is appropriate to discuss all of the patient's care options, including hospice. The decision to accept hospice support belongs to the patient.
Q: Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of volunteer support, or should I ask the question first?
A: The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their family doctor, the home care nurses, friends, clergy, or other health care professionals.
Q: Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to regular treatment?
A: Certainly. If the patient's condition improves and the disease is in remission, patients can choose to end their contact with hospice, however many will maintain their relationship while they return to a more normal circumstance.
Q: Who can refer to COHA and what does the process involve?
A: The patient or family members, the physicians, home care nurses, chaplains, or social workers. The patient must have previously approved the referral. One call to the Director of Palliative Volunteer Services is all that is required to start the support for the patient/family as needed.
Q: What specific assistance does COHA provide to home-based patients?
A: Volunteers who have chosen to work one-to-one with patients are matched to that patient based on demographics, personality and the acceptance of both the patient/family and the volunteer. The volunteers commit to offering support and respite four hours a week, and they are available to the patient at home or in the hospital and will continue to be available to the family after death and throughout bereavement.
Q: Is COHA affiliated with any religious organizations?
A: No. Hospice respects the individual's personal choices and beliefs. Spiritual needs are left to the individual's spiritual advisor who will be called if the patient or family requests that they be called.
Q: Does COHA provide any help for the family after the person dies?
A: Yes, the volunteer is committed to providing continued contact and support following the death of a loved one. In addition, the bereavement counsellor and groups are available as well as the resource materials in the library.
Q: Do COHA volunteers recommend services?
A: No. The volunteers will support the patient and family in accessing the appropriate resources.
Q: Is Hospice Care the same as Palliative Care?
A: Yes. The term "Hospice Palliative Care" can be used interchangeably; however, hospice services can be delivered long before palliative services are ever required. Hospice support is available at the time of a life-limiting diagnosis, often months before palliative care is needed. Palliative care is defined as care when cure is not possible, and is directed toward management of symptoms, usually later in the disease process. Hospice care is available during the life-limiting phase and through until the end.
Q: Where does COHA get its financial support?
A: COHA is a non-profit organization, and a member of the United Way. Hospice relies on fundraising to continue its work, private and corporate donations, bequests, as well as memorial donations and memberships.
Q: How can I or my group learn more about COHA?
A: Call the Hospice Program Support Office and we will provide you with information or make arrangements for a speaker for your group.
Q: I would like to make a donation to COHA. What should I do?
A: A donation may be made at our Program Support Office, through the mail, or through the CanadaHelps secure website. Click on
How To Donate for more information. A tax-deductible receipt will be mailed for donations over $25.
Q: How do I become a member and support the work of Hospice?
A: Individual memberships are $10 per year; Family memberships are $15 per year; Individual lifetime memberships are $100; and Family lifetime memberships are $150. As a member you will have voting privileges at the Annual General Meeting.