Rural Municipalities of Alberta take action to improve hospice, end-of-life care in communities
By Adan Shaikh
Alberta’s access to quality end-of-life care varies significantly between urban and rural areas, leaving many rural residents with tough decisions. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) is now advocating for a sustainable funding model to address these disparities and support community hospices across the province.
Hospice and palliative care aim to provide dignity and comfort for those nearing the end of life. In urban centres like Edmonton and Calgary, resources are plentiful. However, in rural areas, residents often face the difficult choice of staying close to home with limited support or travelling long distances for proper care.
According to the RMA’s 2024 advocacy report, rural communities are aging faster than the provincial average. This, combined with higher mortality rates and fewer healthcare providers, has created significant barriers to hospice care. Many rural Albertans end up dying in hospitals rather than at home or in a hospice despite their wishes for more peaceful settings.
Currently, hospice care in Alberta is funded through a mix of government support, donations, and local fundraising. In rural areas, community hospice societies rely heavily on fundraising to stay afloat. To change this, the RMA is calling for a government-backed funding model that would provide stable operational support. They recommend combining consistent base funding with per-diem payments to ensure financial stability while expanding clinical and grief support programs.
The Hospice Society of Camrose and District has been a driving force in advocating for local hospice beds. The society primarily focuses on grief counselling and community education but sees a real need for dedicated hospice spaces.
“We would be more than happy to support the development of hospice beds in our community,” said Pam Cummer, vice-president of the society.
“People in Camrose and the area would be able to receive palliative care closer to home. Right now, end-of-life patients stay in the hospital, where the care is excellent, but the environment is busy and noisy. Hospice beds would free up hospital space for those with acute illnesses while providing a quieter, more comforting place for those at the end of life.”
Despite these efforts, consistent operational funding remains a challenge. The RMA’s report emphasizes that well-supported, community-driven hospices can dramatically improve end-of-life care in rural Alberta. By adding these hospices into the healthcare system, the government can increase the quality of care for Albertans as they receive the care they deserve in their final days.