Saanich, B.C. shop promises equipment for vulnerable people in need of end-of-life support
A Saanich-based shop has committed to sourcing, supplying, and installing equipment like handrails and chairlifts for people living in shelters, supportive housing units, or wherever there is a need.
Vancouver Island Medical Supply has teamed up with the Palliative Outreach Resource Team (PORT), which provides end-of-life support to individuals in marginalized housing situations.
"So PORT will have access to some of these big-ticket items as well as some of the small stuff like pads for beds and handrails for bathrooms – and some of those things, you know, we take for granted that are additional costs at the end of life," said PORT program manager, Ashley Mollison.
For about a decade, PORT has been acting as a bridge between people with serious illness and their caregivers.
"PORT serves people that don’t necessarily have a home, don’t necessarily have support people, and have money for those additional pieces of medical equipment and supplies," said Mollison.
Now the team will be able to offer important medical equipment that will help people live out their final days in their own homes.
"A lot of times people are forced out of their homes in their communities because of a lack of equipment and supplies that allows them to age in place," said Mollison.
"So that means people end up going to long-term care or going to hospitals," she said. "So, this just increases PORT’s capacity to say, 'Hey, you need this? I have this.'"
The PORT initiative is a partnership between the University of Victoria, Island Health, Cool Aid Society, and now Vancouver Island Medical Supply.
The new partnership builds on an existing relationship with the medical supply shop.
Back in 2020, the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation awarded UVic’s Palliative Approaches to Care Research Program with $10,000 to help with this initiative. At that time, Vancouver Island Medical Supply also contributed $7,500.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.