Our Vision & Mission
Our team of trained volunteers provides one-on-one companionship and nonmedical support, while our staff and board work to strengthen understanding of compassionate care through community education and advocacy. Everything we do is grounded in our belief that care should honour each person’s wishes, values and chosen family.
Our Vision
A community where those living with life-limiting illnesses enjoy the highest quality of life.
Our Mission
Providing a palliative approach to care that ensures dignity, comfort, and meaningful connection for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their chosen families.
Community Partnerships Make Our Work Possible
Our work is made possible thanks to financial support from the community members, along with the dedication of our volunteers, staff and board. While we do not receive funding from the government or the health care system, we work closely with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Through this partnership, we receive referrals for individuals who can benefit from our programs and a palliative approach to care. These community partnerships allow us to offer the services that support individuals and their chosen family with comfort, dignity and connection.
Learn more about our programs – including companionship, rides, respite, and Grief and Bereavement support – and how we walk alongside individuals and families with compassionate, personalized support.
What is Hospice Palliative Care?
A specialized form of healthcare, hospice palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for those living with a life-limiting illness and their families. It addresses the specific physical, psychological, social, spiritual and practical issues associated with life-limiting illness, and related expectations, needs, hopes, and fears (CHPCA).
History
A community vision for hospice care in Saskatoon
Prairie Hospice Society Inc. began in 2011 and kick-started a wave of support. A community visioning session provided the opportunity to openly discuss what hospice care in Saskatoon should look like. Since that time, our volunteers have poured over 20,000 hours into the care of those with a terminal diagnosis.
Prairie Hospice Society came into being with the goal of meeting the needs of people who were approaching end of life and their families.
With the January 2013 launch of our Hospice Without Walls community outreach program, our volunteers rapidly began making a difference for the people of Saskatoon. They went into the homes of their clients, providing companionship and support to stay home as long as possible.
In 2016, we added our Hospice Now program, providing a quick response service to clients and families by providing rides, urgent respite and household-related needs.
In 2019, we added Bereavement Support to our client services, where volunteers provide support to the family for up to one year after their loved one has passed, by providing a series of check ins and offering clients a friendly voice and a safe place to grieve.
Frequently asked questions
No. We are not a residential hospice. Instead, we offer programs in the community where our volunteers go to clients in their own home. Learn more about our services.
No. Our services are only for people who have stopped curative treatment for an illness and are facing a terminal diagnosis.
No. We do not provide any form of medical care. That type of care is typically provided by the Palliative Home Care program of the Saskatchewan Health Authority. We do not do physical transfers or lifting of clients and will call Home Care if clients require that kind of service. For more information about what we do, see our Services page and our Volunteer page.