New project aims to create care model for vulnerably housed refugees
Thanks to new funding, we’re able to develop a model of navigation and support for refugees in need of palliative care—one of the ways we’re growing our services and supports to be inclusive of everyone who is in need.
The Dorothy Ley Hospice has received a $100,000 grant from Health Excellence Canada to test a model of navigation and support for refugees in need of palliative care. The project is a partnership with GPS Health Navigators, Hope House Hospice and Compass Community Health Centre.
Currently, there are no established pathways for refugees to access palliative care. We also know that refugees are at a higher risk of experiencing vulnerable housing and structural vulnerability.
Through the project, we will work at local, provincial and federal levels to address systemic and structural barriers to care for the refugee population who are vulnerably housed and improve access to palliative care services.
We aim to:
- Establish a system navigation service to ensure vulnerably housed refugees with Interim Federal Health Insurance and palliative care needs are connected with appropriate services
- Increase awareness of insurance barriers for this population among community partners
- Increase access to palliative care services for this population
The project will begin with a focus on communities including Etobicoke, Mississauga, Hamilton and York Region, with opportunities to spread to other jurisdictions. Expanding access to hospice palliative care for underserved populations is central to our strategic direction to grow our services and supports to be inclusive of everyone who is in need. We’re one of 23 communities to receive funding through the Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care program. Learn about the other projects