Hospice Volunteer Support Program
Palliative Care Unit – Nanaimo Hospital

If you have a loved one who has been admitted to the palliative care unit at Nanaimo Hospital, you will have access to the support provided by Hospice Volunteers.

Volunteer Hours on PCU
Nanaimo Hospice volunteers are available on the unit from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, including weekends, to provide support to patients and their family members.

Volunteer Support
Volunteers provide practical, emotional, and spiritual care to patients and family.

Reiki & Relaxation
Volunteers from the Hospice Self-Care Clinic are available, upon request. Just notify the Volunteer on duty and she or he will arrange it.

Comfort Cushions
These soft and downy little cushions are distributed by Nanaimo Hospice volunteers at the Palliative Care Unit. They were made with the comfort of patients and family in mind. They can be used to ease pressure points, to support your neck, or to hold close in times of emotional distress. Ask a volunteer for a cushion when needed.

Free Accommodations for Family
Nanaimo Hospice offers free accommodations for family members who are visiting from out-of-town in a warm and cozy suite located a short distance from the hospital. This suite, situated in a volunteer’s home, provides complete privacy, with its own garden and a view of Departure Bay. If you wish, the volunteer can be available to provide support and, when convenient, transportation to or from the hospital. (Please see information brochure for details and contact numbers.)

Loving Caring Coping
Nanaimo Hospice provides reference materials that may be of help to you in caring for yourself while you are caring for your loved one. A brochure detailing the services of the Palliative Care Unit is available.

Print Version of Loving Caring Coping Brochure (PDF)

The support provided by Nanaimo Hospice volunteers at the Palliative Care Unit is funded through donations to Nanaimo Community Hospice Society.