January 30, 2023 – Ottawa, ON – The Sharon Carstairs-OutCare Foundation Fellowship for Hospice Palliative Nursing was created to provide nurses at Bruyère an opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge, and expertise in palliative care and advance a project in their clinical area that will help to promote and advance a palliative approach to care.
The OutCare Foundation established this new endowed fellowship in recognition of the Honourable Sharon Carstairs, PC, CM for her thirty years of leadership in the field of palliative care in Canada.
“We chose to partner with Bruyère because of their reputation and expertise in palliative care not only in our community, but nationally.” – Christine Irvine, Chair, OutCare Foundation.
The 12-week Fellowship will be awarded in January 2024 and will provide the selected fellow with salary replacement and registration in the Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) Core course, as well as clinical mentorship.
“Only about 30% of those who need palliative care can access it. And that’s simply not enough. This program will help us to increase the number of frontline health care professionals properly trained to provide a palliative approach to care to our population.” – stated Sharon Carstairs.
Palliative care is often thought of as end-of-life care, occurring in the last weeks or months of life, when there is no treatment left to explore and the focus of care transitions from cure to comfort. However, people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness can live many years with their condition. A palliative approach to care supports a better quality of life, reduces anxiety, and improves pain and symptom management at all stages of life in people living with life-threatening illnesses.
The 2021 census shows that by 2046, the population aged 85 and older could triple to almost 2.5 million people. As Canadians are living longer, they are often living with multiple chronic illnesses for many years of their lives.
“Palliative care is about helping someone to live as well as possible for as long as possible. Bruyère is working towards offering a palliative approach to care to all our patients and residents. This endowment fund is helping us to get there. We look forward to the important benefits that will follow, and the enhanced experience of our patients and their loved ones.” – Paula Doering, Senior Vice-President, Clinical Programs, Chief Nursing Executive and Allied Health Professionals
The $140,000 endowment fund was established with the funds raised at OutCare Foundation’s annual Black Tie Bingo event, and a personal contribution from Sharon and John Carstairs. Bruyère will also contribute financial support annually to the Fellowship. To contribute to this important initiative, please visit www.bruyere.org/Carstairs-OutCare-Fellowship
