Hospitals are more likely to have specialized palliative care units. In hospitals Some hospitals have specialized palliative care units. Others set aside a certain number of beds in different hospital units for people needing palliative care. Hospitals who have a palliative care team, composed of health professionals specialized in this type of care, can help other staff provide palliative care in the unit where the ill person is staying. Some people move into such hospices to receive palliative care on a 24-hour basis.
Palliative care is paid for in different ways across the country.
It is important that people requiring palliative care and their families find out as soon as possible who pays for what and what additional financial assistance may be available. Who pays often depends on whether care is being provided at home or in the hospital. Palliative care costs at home may be covered for by the provincial health plan as part of a home care program. These plans do not always include the cost of drugs and equipment used at home. Some allow only a certain number of paid hours of professional and home support services.