Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society

08/18/2026

💙 When You Don’t Know What to Say to a Caregiver…

When someone we care about becomes a caregiver, our first instinct is often to say something encouraging.

But sometimes the words we mean as support can land differently when someone is exhausted, worried, grieving or simply trying to make it through another difficult day.

Instead of:

💬 “You look tired.”
Try: “I’ve been thinking about you. How are you doing?”

💬 “I don’t know how you do it.”
Try: “You’re carrying a lot. I’m here with you.”

💬 “You’re an angel.”
Try: “What you’re doing matters, and I know it isn’t easy.”

💬 “Call me if you need anything.”
Try offering something specific: “Can I bring dinner on Wednesday?” or “Can I pick up groceries for you?”

💬 “It’s all for the best.”
Try: “I’m sorry this is so hard.”

💬 “What can I do to help?”
Sometimes it’s easier for an overwhelmed caregiver to answer a specific offer: “I’m heading to the store. What can I pick up for you?”

And sometimes there really aren’t any words.

You can sit beside them.
Listen.
Bring a coffee.
Make a meal.
Run an errand.
Give them an opportunity to rest.
Let them talk without trying to fix anything.

Most people who say the “wrong” thing are coming from a place of love. Supporting a caregiver isn’t about finding perfect words. ❤️

It’s about reminding them that they don’t have to carry everything alone.

At the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society, we understand that serious illness affects more than the person receiving care. Families, friends and caregivers need care and support, too.

We are here to help. 💙

08/17/2026

🏡 What makes a hospice house feel like home?

It isn’t only the building.

At Rotary Hospice House, our Care Aides and Registered Nurses provide compassionate, professional care to our guests — but their role reaches far beyond that care.

It can be tending the garden or making sure there are plants and flowers throughout the house. 🌿

It can be preparing a favourite meal or baking something special when time allows. 🍪

It can be welcoming family members, friends, physicians, social workers and other visitors through the door and helping them feel comfortable during what may be one of the most difficult times in their lives.

And sometimes, it is simply noticing what needs to be done — and doing it.

Hospice work also means being present for some incredibly emotional moments. Our team gets to know our guests and their families. Connections are formed. Stories are shared. People are remembered.

And when a death affects a member of our team, their coworkers understand in a way few others can.

They work together at all hours, step in for one another when someone is ill or needs support, and carry one another through difficult days as well as good ones.

Hospice care is about caring for the whole person, but it is also about creating a place where families can simply be families.

Our Care Aides and Registered Nurses are a tremendous part of what makes Rotary Hospice House not just a place where people receive care, but a place that feels like home. ❤️

We are grateful for the compassion they bring through our doors every single day.

Prince George Hospice is here for our community, through end-of-life care, grief, loss and the moments in between.

08/16/2026

A Place to Remember Someone You Love 💙

Grief and remembrance are deeply personal. For some families, creating a lasting place to sit, reflect and remember can bring comfort for years to come.

The City of Prince George’s Gifts and Legacy Program offers an opportunity to memorialize a loved one by donating a park bench or picnic table on City-owned parkland. Families can work with the City to select an approved location and discuss the wording for a commemorative plaque.

The current cost of a memorial park bench is $2,700, including the bench and installation.

The program has reached its limit and is closed for 2026. Applications are normally accepted beginning January 1 and remain open until July 1, or until the available spaces have been filled.

For more information, please contact the City of Prince George:

Phone: 311 or 250-561-7600
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Website: princegeorge.ca/finance/gifts-legacies

There is no single right way to remember someone. Whether it is through a bench, a garden, a treasured keepsake, an annual tradition or simply sharing their stories, every act of remembrance can help keep a loved one’s memory close.

If you are grieving, the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society is here to offer compassionate care, understanding and support. You do not have to walk through grief alone. 💙

08/15/2026

🔔 The Story Behind the Cancer Bell

The tradition of ringing a bell after cancer treatment began in 1996 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Rear Admiral Irve Le Moyne was receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. When he completed his treatment, he followed a naval tradition of ringing a bell to signal that a difficult job was finished. He rang a brass bell three times and left it at the centre for others to ring after reaching their own treatment milestones.

Today, bells can be found in cancer centres around the world. For many people, that sound represents courage, relief, hope and the completion of one part of an incredibly difficult journey.

We also recognize that not every cancer journey has a final treatment day. Some people receive ongoing, lifelong or palliative treatment and may never have the opportunity to ring the traditional bell. Every milestone matters, whether it is completing treatment, reaching a personal goal, finding comfort or simply making it through another day.

At the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society, we are here to offer compassionate care and support to individuals and families through every chapter of the journey. No one should have to face it alone. 💙

08/14/2026

Are you familiar with the term "ambiguous loss"? Just about all of ...

08/13/2026

A Sweet Act of Kindness❤️

A big thank you to Anna, Olive, Hudson and Avery for setting up a lemonade and iced tea stand and donating all of the proceeds to Hospice in memory of their beloved grandmother, Thelma Mohammed.

We are so grateful for their kindness and thoughtful support. What a beautiful way to honour Thelma's memory!💜

08/13/2026

Did you know more than 8 million family and friend caregivers across Canada provide care at home to someone who is seriously ill?

Behind that number are millions of people preparing meals, managing medications, attending appointments, offering comfort and simply being there.

Caregiving can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be physically and emotionally exhausting. Caregivers need care, understanding and support, too.

If you know a caregiver, take a moment to check in. A kind word, a listening ear or a helping hand can make a meaningful difference. 💙

08/12/2026

On August 11, 2014, the world lost Robin Williams—a gifted performer who brought laughter and joy to millions.

Following his death, an autopsy revealed that Robin had been living with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disease that had not been correctly diagnosed during his lifetime. His experience helped bring greater awareness to a condition that many families still know very little about.

Lewy body dementia is caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain. It can affect thinking, movement, sleep, mood and behaviour.

Someone living with Lewy body dementia may experience:

• Changes in attention or alertness throughout the day
• Memory and thinking difficulties
• Visual hallucinations
• Stiffness, tremors or changes in movement
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety, depression or changes in mood

Every person’s experience is different, and their abilities may change from one day—or even one hour—to the next.

We can help by being patient, speaking calmly, maintaining familiar routines and creating a quiet, reassuring environment. If someone is experiencing a hallucination, respond to the feelings behind the experience rather than arguing about what they see. Continue to include them, listen to them and treat them with dignity.

Caregivers need care, too. A listening ear, a prepared meal, time to rest or a sincere offer of help can make a meaningful difference.

Robin Williams spent his life reminding us of the power of laughter and human connection. His story also reminds us that we cannot always see what another person—or their family—is carrying.

At the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society, we understand that serious illness affects the entire family. We are here to listen, support and walk alongside you so that no one has to face the journey alone. 💙

Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply being present.

08/11/2026

08/10/2026

🌿 We’re Hiring: Director of Operations, Clinical and Community Services

The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society is seeking a compassionate and experienced leader to oversee our clinical and community programs.

This is a meaningful opportunity to guide dedicated teams, strengthen the delivery of exceptional hospice palliative care, and make a lasting difference for individuals and families throughout our community.

To apply, please send your cover letter and résumé to [email protected].

Learn more about our Society at www.pghpcs.ca.

Hospice—it’s how we care, not where we care.