Palliative & End-of-Life Care in Alberta

Palliative and end-of-life care is the set of programs and services that help people who are diagnosed with a progressive life-limiting/threatening illness to live their lives the best way possible.

These services are not just for people who are actively dying, but also for people with serious progressive illnesses such as lung, kidney, and heart disease.

People who are aging or living with a serious life-limiting/threatening illness who may have many months left to live can benefit from this type of care by having their symptoms and concerns looked after during all phases of their illness.

Find a Service

Adults

• Home & Community Care
• Hospice Care (specialized 24-hour facility-based end-of-life care)
• Palliative Consult Team (specialized consultation in a variety of care settings, such as home or acute care)
• Specialized Palliative Care Programs (support for complex pain and other symptoms)

Under 18 Years

• Newborn, Child & Youth Services

All Ages

• EMS Palliative and End-of-Life Care Assess, Treat, and Refer Program (responds to palliative patients in crisis at home to help manage symptoms)
• Grief & Bereavement Programs

Resources & Support

Planning Ahead

• Advance Care Planning
• Compassionate Alberta
• Personal Directives

Caregiver Support

• Caregiver Alberta
• Symptom Management: A Caregiver's Guide

Financial Support

• Being a Caregiver: Apply for Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits - Service Canada
• Compassionate Care Leave - Alberta Labour
• Palliative Care Health Benefits - Alberta Health

After Someone Dies

• Dealing with Death - Canada Benefits
• Following a Death - Service Canada
• Funeral Provider Directory - AFSA
• MyGrief.ca
• What to Do When Someone Dies - Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Related Resources

• Get Health System Information in Your Language
• Help in Tough Times
• Indigenous Health
• Interpretation & Translation Services
• Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
• Resource Guide for the Development of Community Palliative and End-of-Life Care within Alberta 
• Virtual Health

Contact Information

If you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 right away.

If you need:

• health advice or information, call 811 Health Link 24/7 or visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca
• access to community, social and government services, call 211 Alberta

Questions or Comments

Email palliative.care@ahs.ca, monitored Monday to Friday, except on statutory holidays. We’ll do our best to get back to you within 2 business days.

DO NOT send any personal or health information by email. Information sent by email isn’t secure.​​​