As a national leader in socially innovative end-of-life care for Canada’s most vulnerable citizens, Saint Elizabeth Foundation always looks to bring this perspective to the global stage.
On Saturday, June 8, 2024 the Foundation hosted Specialized Hospice Palliative Care for Structurally Vulnerable Populations: An Inaugural International Knowledge Exchange, bringing together healthcare leaders from around the world to discuss and share their social impact work, practices, and advocacy efforts on behalf of structurally vulnerable populations in need of specialized hospice palliative care.
“This is a groundbreaking occasion,” said Nancy Lefebre, SVP, COO, SE Health. “We are extremely dedicated to our work with people experiencing homelessness and structural vulnerability so the opportunity to bring together like-mind international organizations, provide context to this specialized area and keep the conversation going is an ideal situation.”
Highlighting the knowledge exchange was a keynote address from Helen Simmons, CEO of St. Christopher’s Hospice in the United Kingdom. Located in London, St. Christopher’s was founded by Dame Cicely Saunders in 1967 and is widely recognized as the first modern hospice. It has been a centre for innovation and insight since its founding and Simmons is looking to bring this cutting-edge perspective with her participation.
“As with all hospices, we want trust and credibility linked to our skills – especially when dealing with people experiencing homelessness,” said Simmons. “We know they are particularly vulnerable when it comes to accessing healthcare because we’ve found they don’t necessarily engage with healthcare services. We need to collectively create a dynamic that helps to adapt services to make it easier for marginalized communities to reach them.”
Saint Elizabeth Foundation’s effort to make care more reachable began in 2018 with the launch of Toronto’s Journey Home Hospice, which aims to improve equitable access to hospice palliative care for the homeless community. In November 2022, a first of its kind satellite location was opened in Windsor, and visitors from across the United States, Australia and other countries have visited Journey Home to learn and witness the model of care.
“We hope this helps to drive the ongoing conversation,” said Lefebre. “We know most Canadians want to die at home. But where do you go to die when you don’t have a home? We don’t want people to have to ask that question.”