Compassionate Care Beyond the Bedside

The Cause

Imagine if you were diagnosed with an advanced illness, like stage four cancer. It’s scary, overwhelming, and lonely and probably one of the most challenging times of your life. You might lose your routines or independence and feel like you have to give up some of the things you used to love doing. The diagnosis can be equally overwhelming, yet different, for your family or others you care about as they try to support you while still being an attentive parent, partner, best friend, or colleague to you and others. The disruption to families is immeasurable.
Across Canada, friends and family provide most of the care for people facing advanced or chronic illnesses and disability. Currently, there are 1 million family caregivers in Alberta. According to a national survey, 37% of Canadian caregivers feel overwhelmed, over 30% of caregivers are facing financial hardship due to caregiving, and 15% have to take on debt. Local families have shared with us that it’s hard to find programs to help them cope and find relief. Even when families find support, it can still be out of reach because of cost, location, or timing.
Our idea is the Companion Program! A program to relieve the pressure on individuals and their families who are living with advanced illness
Our Companion Volunteers fill this gap. They receive extensive training from a professional social worker, and then they are carefully matched with a client who is living with an advanced illness. Volunteers can help build connections, promote quality of life, and offer a renewed sense of independence. Whether helping with an unfinished project, enjoying a visit to the park, or providing practical support like driving to appointments and running errands, Companion Volunteers help people feel less alone and deliver exceptional care beyond the bedside. Once matched, Companions schedule weekly visits and remain connected for as long as needed. The free service supports people where they want it ‐ in their homes and community.
The program has over 50 active matches in Calgary and continues to grow. Every week there are 2-3 new referrals to the program from doctors, social workers, and the community.
Your support will help cover costs related to promoting the program to reach as many people as possible, as well as recruiting, training, and managing the dozens of dedicated volunteers.
“Knowing that someone else was visiting with my mom took the strain off me feeling like I needed to be there all of the time.”-Client

Who Will it Benefit?

The Companion Program is open to adults in Calgary with a life-limiting diagnosis such as Kidney Failure, Cancer, Parkinson’s, and Dementia. Enrollment into the program is free and can happen at the point of diagnosis or any time after.

To date, the companion program has provided over 1300 hours of support. Since its launch in late 2022, the number of clients enrolled has increased by over 1300%, and we continue to receive 2 to 3 new client referrals each week. We expect this trend to increase as awareness of the program grows.
The Companion Program helps address a growing and unmet community need. In Alberta, it is estimated that seniors will account for 23-25% of the total population by 2036. It is also projected that soon more people will be diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses and in need for care beyond the bedside will grow to more than at any other time in history.
“Trust, love, engagement, reliability, professionalism. OUTSTANDING and under-recognized.” – Companion Program Client Feedback