The Gift of Grace: Pondering Palliative Policy

Two things in life are certain: death and taxes. People discuss taxes almost as often as they discuss the weather. But we don’t discuss death nearly as often as we talk about taxes. Why is this? One reason is that people don’t know what their end-of-life options are. Fortunately, just like you can plan to do your taxes, you can prepare for your eventual death.

If you think that it’s too soon to start preparing for your death, you’re not the only person to feel this way. Death is a natural life transition, just like graduation, retirement, or buying a house. It’s never too early to start saving for retirement, and it’s never too early to begin thinking about your priorities for the end of your life. One way to ensure your wishes are honoured is by writing a will.

As many as 75% of Canadians don’t have a will that reflects their current circumstances and priorities, with roughly 8% of Canadians going about their life with no end-of-life plans at all because of their discomfort with the topic of death. Planning ahead and ensuring that your loved ones are aware of your plans is critical in having your needs met and your wishes respected. Something you can include in a will is when you would like to begin palliative care if you become terminally ill. 

What exactly is palliative care? This type of care is for people who are dying and do not want to continue treatments that may extend their life. This could be someone with end-stage cancer, for example. Cancer treatments are emotionally and physically draining, and there may come a point where somebody with severe cancer may want to live the rest of their life in comfort instead of going through more chemotherapy and radiation. Palliative care is all about ensuring that patients’ goals are met and that the end of their life is as comfortable and as pain-free as possible. Everybody has different priorities, so a holistic, individualized, and person-centred approach to palliative care is necessary. Individuals have different priorities, which are all equally valid, and palliative care is one way to help ensure that your priorities are met.

Albertans have full access to palliative care under their provincial health coverage. The goal is clear, if rudimentary: everybody who wishes to end life-prolonging treatments and receive palliative care is entitled to it. An $11 million grant was allocated to palliative care in Alberta in 2021, with the goal of supporting research, education for health professionals, and earlier access to palliative care for patients. A one-time grant like this is important, but there is no indication of palliative care remaining a priority in the 2022 budget and beyond. This lack of consideration is alarming. In addition to the lack of mention in the budget, there is a concerning lack of specific Alberta public policy on palliative care.

You may be wondering, why am I only learning about palliative care now? You wouldn’t be the only one asking. There is a severe lack of communication regarding the availability of palliative care services. A policy is only effective if the people it claims to serve are aware it exists. Communication is a crucial part of the policy process, and our government officials have failed us by not making us aware of the palliative care we are entitled to as Albertans. They have also failed to prioritize palliative care as fundamental health care, which is particularly alarming given the rapidly aging population. 

It is crucial that the Alberta government communicates policies such as universal palliative care to Albertans to give the gift of grace to as many people as possible. Our population is aging, and palliative care could save the government a minimum of thousands of dollars per patient. These savings could be allocated towards a number of other health priorities and could help you achieve your current priorities, not just your end-of-life priorities. 

The earlier you plan for the end of your life, the more likely it is that you and your loved ones will be able to access the supports you’re entitled to. Palliative care is about examining what you what, what your goals are, and how you want to provide for your loved ones. It’s about you and your life, and you only get one chance to die with grace.

Cayley Hodgson is a Master’s student at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.