When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, family members often want to spend as much time with them as possible. The terminally ill person may need a great deal of care. There are many questions: Do they want to remain at home? Who will provide care? What community services are available? What other family members can help? How can I work and also be there to help? Now compassionate care benefits provide some help.

As of January 4, 2004, you can receive compassionate care benefits up to a maximum of 6 weeks if you have to be absent from work to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member.. If you are unemployed and on employment insurance (EI), you can also ask for this type of benefits. There are however specific eligibility criteria. A special medical certificate is required and must be completed and signed by your family member’s doctor.

You can receive compassionate care benefits for up to six weeks to care for a close family member such as your child, spouse, or parent. The type of care can be psychological or emotional support; arranging and coordinating care; you can be directly involved in providing care. You can apply for these benefits at your local Human Resources Development of Canada (HRDC) office. Your ill family member could also be eligible for benefits from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or EI sickness benefits while they are alive. A surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children could be eligible for a monthly income from CPP.

The compassionate care benefits along with many other services, such as visiting volunteers from Hospice, nursing and homemaking from the Community Care Access Centre, can help a terminally ill person remain at home. The person can also choose to go to the hospital. Both South Muskoka Memorial Hospital and Huntsville District Memorial Hospital have special rooms for palliative care patients. The rooms are decorated and outfitted with home-like comforts so that family members can stay for extended hours.

Another amendment to the Employment Insurance Act (Bill C-206) has also been proposed which would provide benefits to caregivers who have to leave their jobs to care for a family member with a disability who is unable to live independently. Working caregivers often have to make great personal sacrifices and choose between caring for a loved one at home or placing them in an institution so they can continue to work. The pressures of work and juggling the care needs of the family member with other family responsibilities often place the caregivers own health at risk. With waiting lists for long-term care facilities, lack of subsidized and supportive housing, and minimal home care hours, the onus is on the family to provide care. If approved, extension of EI benefits to caregivers would be a welcome solution for many families.

(For information about compassionate care benefits contact the Human Resources Development Canada office - Bracebridge -645-2204 or www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/pubs/compassionate_care.shtml Contact Hospice Muskoka at 646-7677 or Hospice Huntsville at 789-6878)

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