Victoria Hospice Society

The Victoria Hospice Society, founded in 1983, is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing end-of-life care to residents of the Greater Victoria area in British Columbia. As a registered charity, it focuses on palliative treatment, education, and research.

Mission and Services

The mission of Victoria Hospice Society is to enhance the quality of life for individuals facing life-limiting illnesses, death, and bereavement through patient and family-centred care, education, research, and advocacy[1][4]. The organization offers a comprehensive range of services:

• Hospice and Palliative Response Program: This program includes an 18-bed inpatient unit located at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. The unit provides a supportive environment with features such as a 24-hour unrestricted family and friends visiting policy, which includes pets, a family lounge area, an open kitchen, and private meditation rooms[3]. Additionally, the Palliative Response Team offers short-term crisis consultation and treatment for patients wishing to remain at home[4].
• Counseling and Bereavement Services: Victoria Hospice provides bereavement support to anyone in the community. This includes individual and group counseling sessions, as well as workshops. The organization offers up to six free individual grief counseling sessions[4].
• Community Care: Services extend beyond the hospital setting to include care in patients' homes. This ensures that comprehensive support is available to patients and their families in various settings[5].

Funding and Operations

Victoria Hospice Society is financially supported by generous donations from its community, enabling it to maintain its programs. It is recognized as a financially transparent organization but has higher-than-average overhead spending according to some charitable ratings[4]. The society is staffed by approximately 116 full-time, part-time, and casual employees, along with over 300 active volunteers who play a crucial role in delivering patient care and supporting community events[5].

Impact and Community Role

Victoria Hospice Society serves a community of approximately 375,000 people in the Victoria area. Its programs are designed to address the needs of an aging population, with a focus on providing compassionate care and reducing hospitalizations at the end of life[4]. The organization's work is significant in a region where a substantial portion of the population prefers home-based care during their final stages of life.