Paramedics helping hospice patients make final memories with family

Paramedics helping hospice patients make final memories with family 
CKXS 99.1 News, St. Wallaceburg, Ontario; 6/7/24
A new hospice program in Chatham-Kent is giving patients a chance to take one last end-of-life journey with their loved ones. Chatham-Kent EMS and the Chatham-Kent Hospice have partnered to create the Lasting Memories Program, which allows palliative patients to take a day trip to a location of their choosing. The program helps families create lasting memories of their loved ones in the final days through a trip to the farm, a ride to the lake, or enjoying a sporting event. Local paramedic Jon Benoit was credited for helping to get the program off the ground by coordinating services between the hospice and Medavie Health Services. “Medavie is really good about letting us use their ambulances and helping get this program running and supporting us through it… but the medics doing the actual program, it’s all volunteer time,” he said. Staff at the hospice work with families on coordinating the outing with volunteer paramedics, who escort them throughout the excursion, alleviating any health or medical concerns.