National Volunteer Week April 18-24, 2021

“The gift of time is priceless – thank you for sharing yours.”

Prairie Rose would like to thank our volunteer Directors for their continued volunteering during covid-19 restrictions to keep our Society goals going for our clients and their families in Brooks, Bassano Hospital and the area.

To be a PRHPCS Volunteer:

  • Generosity, a willingness to give your time to others
  • Understanding, because their lives might be very different from your own
  • Empathy, an ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and feel what they must feel
  • Compassion, to truly care about making someone else’s life better
  • Patience, because the process doesn’t always go as smoothly as it might
  • Dedication, to stick with the project and see it through

Prairie Rose would like to thank and acknowledge our Directors: Linda Currie, Cindy Young, Betty Hansen, Linda Simpson, Angela DeBlasio, Pastor John Theiss, Jenn Thom, Marg Laux, Rose Anderson, Angela MacDonald, Alana Alvis.

We would also like to thank the volunteer members that worked right alongside us this year: Julie Tateson, Wendy Metcalf, Amy Dyck, Bev Signarowski, Rev. Janice Whitelock, Colleen Davidson, Cheryl Hansen, Jen Trenerry, Vern Alvis, Elizabeth Harms.

2020 Survey Results

In September 2020, PRHPCS conducted an online community hospice palliative care survey available on our FB and Website. We also emailed the survey out to all of our past supporters but only received 4 back – concerned our survey went to their junk mail. In total, we received 27 surveys filled out.

We realize hospice palliative care is not always easy for families to discuss, nor do they know what questions to ask on upcoming needs. Our goal is to help navigate this new life journey, during and after, with continued community functions throughout the year – before covid – creating an awareness of our resources available to the community.

Webpage and Facebook can limit some of our supporters, as they are not into this
form of communication. The 55 to 74 age group was the group that filled out the
most surveys.


PRHPCS discussed the survey results at their January 2021 meeting. Below are the
requests with our response at this time:


PRHPCS resources available online on our webpage – prairierosehospice.ca. Those included are:
– PRHPCS Community Resource Pamphlet
– AHS Palliative Care Resource (PCR) Nurse @ 403 362-3210
– Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association – https://ahpca.ca ; ww w.mygrief.ca ;
– Canadian Virtual Hospice – virtualhospice.ca
– Brooks Home care – 403-501-3244;
– SPEC – https://spec.ab.ca .
– AHS Volunteer Coordinator 403 501-3207 at volunteer.brooks@albertahealthservices.ca
– Equipment rental: AJ’s Loan Cupboard (Medicine Hat) 403 580-5580
– Medicine Hat Red Cross (403) 526-3048

Help requested: we have listed existing resources or ones outside our goals:
● Special facility or designated wing – BHC is under construction with 5 designated pc rooms. There is 1 bed in Bassano Hospital.
● Respite Care – PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; Home care and speak to your family doctor for options.
● Palliative care vs regular care in hosp. – BHC new unit when built and existing bed at Bassano Hospital. PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; online resources from our webpage.
● Caregivers need more one on one support – PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; Home care; Clergy; online resources from our webpage.
● Reassessing family roles – PCR Nurse; Resource pamphlet, ‘Saying goodbye’ book in comfort basket; Home care and online resources from our webpage.

● Info on what to expect – PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; Comfort basket; online resources from our webpage.
● Client Counselling & Grief – PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; ongoing evening bereavement group; and online resources from our webpage.
● Volunteer training – meet 3 times a year, attend one conference once per year, access to educational info. – Covid has preempted our volunteer training.
We are working with AHS to provide our volunteer training. In the near future, they are going to again offer – No one dies alone – NODA – We have a dementia workshop in the planning subject to covid rules. In the meantime, check out our
online resources for info. Society volunteers must register through AHS Volunteer Coordinator start online at volunteer.brooks@albertahealthservices.ca then contact the VC @ 403 501-3207.
● Spiritual care – Our resource pamphlet – their own clergy. While in the hospital you can access the minister on call.
● Hire a part-time minister for clients and family. This is beyond our society goals at this time. Access their own clergy or while in the hospital they are able to access the on call clergy.
● Follow up after the EOL journey with family/caregiver . PCR Nurse; Evening bereavement group plans on followup connection after EOL.
● Resources for ‘all things that come after’ – PCR Nurse; Funeral homes are a very good resource for the paperwork. Access our online resources for other needs.
● Financial assistance before EOL. – PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; Home care.
● Support group – PCR Nurse; Our Evening bereavement – our online resources.
● Info on local rental places – PCR Nurse; and our resource pamphlet.
● General info link – Our resource pamphlet and online resources.
● Info on health care options – PCR Nurse; Our resource pamphlet; online resources .
● Videos on website – Our website and online resources .

PRHPCS thanks those that took the time to fill out our online survey. We are pleased to see the community supports our work. We, also, see areas that support is still needed. From the survey and discussions with caregivers, we recently created a PRHPCS Resource Brochure (found on our website) with local resources in one place for easy access.
Hospice palliative care needs are growing and evolving every day in Brooks and the area. PRHPCS is making positive attempts to be advocates of hospice palliative care needs.
PRHPCS Directors and Members.

Spring Virtual Memorial Service – March 21/21

You are cordially invited to attend a virtual memorial service in memory of the loss of your loved one who passed away between July 01, 2020 and December 31, 2020. 

Your family and friends are welcome to view our service online @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9RXShEEkOA

This non-denominational service is in honor of the loss of the loved family and friends in our community. To ensure your loved one is recognized, please email us at prhpcs@gmail.com giving us name and date of passing.

Next Fall Virtual Memorial Service will be Sept. 19th, 2021 2:00 p.m. 

Please take our Survey!

PRHPCS has been a society since 2016 in Brooks and Area. We are very pleased to see our growth within our communities.  Your support has brought comfort to our hospice palliative care patients.

PRHPCS is conducting a community survey to gather information on Hospice and Palliative care needs in Brooks and Area. We would like to hear from as many as possible on hospice and palliative care bouquets, needs, and concerns. What works and what does not work.

Each Day Matters

We believe that lives matter, right up until their very last days. Through education, awareness, fundraising, and providing for practical needs, such as in-home care beds, Prairie Rose Hospice Palliative Care Society promotes and supports local palliative care efforts.

PRHPCS has a survey on our website and FB page – we would appreciate if you could take the time to fill this short survey out. It will help us with our hospice palliative care planning in the upcoming year.

This survey starts Sept. 1st to the end of October on our webpage and Facebook page.

Thanks for your continuing support.

– Directors of PRHPCS

Thank you to everyone that took the time to fill out our survey. This helps us to coordinate our goals for the next year/s.

-Directors of PRHPCS

COVID-19 Update

COVID-19

Although Prairie Rose Hospice Palliative Care Society is still accepting donations, your receipts and thank you will be delayed until it is safe to do so through Covid-19. We appreciate your patience. 

Donation from Smith Group Holdings

Donation from Smith Group Holdings

The PRHPCS was graciously presented with a donation of $1000 on behalf of the Smith Group  Holdings Family barbecue.  To accept this generous donation was Marg Laux and Linda Currie of PRHPCS and Cole Smith and Jody Wester of Smith Group Holdings.

PRHPCS would like to express there extreme gratitude for the Smith Group Holdings Support.

Accomplishments of 2019

Here are some of our photo highlights from events throughout the year.

Thank you Brooks Lions Club!

Recently, the Brooks Lions Club donated $1,000.00 to Prairie Rose Hospice Palliative Care Society. Shown left to right, Marg Laux, board member, Paul Vickers, Lions Treasurer, and Linda Currie, board chairperson. 
PRHPCS appreciates Brooks Lions Club support of hospice palliative care in Brooks and Area.