Rights
Having a child who is receiving palliative care is a very trying time for parents for many obvious reasons. While parents are trying to deal with several emotions and the reality that their child is terminally ill, they are also feeling pressure from other areas in their life where they may have been more absent, such as the family and work environments. In order to ease some of the burden for parents, here is a list of some of their rights when their child is receiving end-of-life care.
Health Canada’s Canada Health Act Annual Report 2006-2007
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/alt_formats/
Ontario ’s Family Medical Leave (Provincial)
The Family Medical Leave (unpaid) allows employees who are caring for a gravely ill family member to take up to eight weeks off work without worrying about losing their jobs. Anyone in Ontario covered by the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (including part-time employees) is eligible to take this job-protected time off work. Please contact the Ontario Ministry of Labour website at http://www.labour.gov.on.ca or call 1-800-668-9938.
Compassionate Care Benefit (Federal)
The federal government’s Compassionate Care Benefit Program will pay up to six weeks of special benefits to claimants who provide care or support to a gravely ill family member with a significant risk of death in the next six months. Please contact the Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) at 1-800-277-9914 or http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
Joint Declaration and Statement of Commitment on Palliative Care and Pain Treatment as Human Rights
The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) and other organizations from around the world have issued a Joint Declaration and Statement of Commitment calling for the recognition of palliative care and pain treatment as human rights. This declaration will be used to promote and advocate for hospice and palliative care as a human right for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and beyond. It may be used by civil society/non-governmental organizations(NGOs) and professional organizations or associations when approaching various levels of organizations and governments to support the advancement of palliative care and pain treatment around the globe.
For more information about hospice and palliative care as a human right and to sign the declaration, please visit: http://www.hospicecare.com/resources/pain_pallcare_hr/
The Family Legal Health Program (FLHP) is a free legal service located at SickKids Hospital. It serves low-income families whose children receive treatment at SickKids. The program uses legal solutions to address non-medical issues that can impact a child’s health or a family’s capacity to care for their sick child. The FLHP is a service of Pro Bono Law Ontario in partnership with SickKids. Contact: Lee Ann Chapman, Lawyer
Family Legal Health Program
416-813-8063, Room 1109D(Elm)-External use email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Granparents (aunts, uncles) who are raising their grandchildren are entitled (if they qualify financially) to many of the same benefits as parents including:
Canada and Ontario child benefit, ACSD and Temporary Care Assistance under Ontario Works. It does not matter that the grandparents do not have custody.
There is also a special resource for grandparents: http://www.cangrands.com/
For more information on policy and advocacy in Canada, visit the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s website at: http://www.chpca.net/public_policy_advocacy.htm
