{"id":54,"date":"2026-01-06T21:23:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T21:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/?page_id=54"},"modified":"2026-10-25T05:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T05:26:23","slug":"completed-projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/completed-projects\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Building a Compassionate Community: A Patient-Oriented Approach to Care&nbsp;for Persons Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Island Health has the highest rate of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) provision in British Columbia. Recent research within Island Health&#8217;s&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;program has highlighted gaps in support for equity-deserving populations seeking&nbsp;MAiD. Changes to the&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;legislation allow eligibility for people whose natural death is not foreseeable;&nbsp;however, they do not meet criteria for palliative, end-of-life care. Rising rates of substance use, mental health&nbsp;disorders, and homelessness further underscore the need for compassionate, supportive care for those considering&nbsp;MAiD. Many non-profit community support organizations that provide health and social services for equity-deserving&nbsp;groups&nbsp;often&nbsp;lack awareness about&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;and its processes,&nbsp;limiting their ability to offer informed support.<br><br>In collaboration with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.islandhealth.ca\/learn-about-health\/medical-assistance-dying\/medical-assistance-dying\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Island Health\u2019s MAiD Coordination Centre<\/a>,&nbsp;this project will employ a patient-oriented, learning health systems&nbsp;approach to address these gaps and foster&nbsp;collaboration between Island Health&#8217;s&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;program, people with lived or living experiences (PWLLE), and local&nbsp;community support organizations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_Wide-5-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Port Alberni &amp; Campbell River Caf\u00e9s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_MAiD_Cafe_Wide-3-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary goals are: 1) to explore and strengthen community-based supports&nbsp;available for equity-deserving populations seeking&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;on Vancouver Island, and 2) to enhance awareness and&nbsp;understanding of&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;among community support organizations. This project will&nbsp;establish&nbsp;a strong foundation&nbsp;for&nbsp;developing an integrated&nbsp;community-based&nbsp;approach that offers wrap-around support to persons seeking&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-298\" style=\"width:524px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/PortAlberni_group-4-1200x900.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_Cafe_4-1-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/files\/2026\/03\/CR_CD-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-light-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-light-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"repository\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comprehensive Resource Repository to Support Individuals&nbsp;Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Previous&nbsp;studies&nbsp;conducted by our team&nbsp;highlight significant gaps in&nbsp;access to health and social supports&nbsp;for equity-deserving populations seeking Medical&nbsp;Assistance&nbsp;in&nbsp;Dying (MAiD). Recent legislative changes&nbsp;to&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;expanded eligibility to include individuals whose natural death is not foreseeable, many of whom do not qualify for palliative or end-of-life care. Rising rates of substance use, mental health challenges, and homelessness further highlight the need for more coordinated and compassionate supports. This project uses a patient-oriented, learning health system approach to strengthen collaboration between Island Health\u2019s&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;program, people with lived or living experience, and community support organizations. By&nbsp;identifying&nbsp;existing community-based resources and developing a publicly accessible website to centralize and share this information, the project aims to enhance&nbsp;equitable&nbsp;access to&nbsp;community-based supports for individuals seeking&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;and their families on Vancouver Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-light-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-light-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-dark-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/completed-projects\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/projects\/#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building a Compassionate Community: A Patient-Oriented Approach to Care&nbsp;for Persons Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Island Health has the highest rate of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) provision in British Columbia. Recent research within Island Health&#8217;s&nbsp;MAiD&nbsp;program has highlighted gaps in &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/completed-projects\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6129,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-54","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6129"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":71,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":620,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions\/620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/variath\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}