b"PALLIATIVE CAREHope for the Best, Plan for the RestHelping patients and families live well with a life-limiting conditionBy Dr. Samantha WinemakerDr. Samantha (Sammy) Winemaker, a palliative care physician in Hamilton, Ontario, recently co-authored a book with Dr. Hsien Seow called Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest. Its a practical guide for patients/residents, caregivers and health care providers to work better together, and feel prepared and informed, through the journey of a life-changing illness.Dr. Winemaker joined the Ontario Long Term Care Associations Coming of Age podcast this year to discuss how the health systems approach to supporting people with life-limiting conditions needs to change. Below is an excerpt from her discussion with host Donna Duncan, CEO of the Association. To listen to the full interview, subscribe to Coming of Age on your preferred podcast platform.T he time was right for a book toPatients and families embark onend of life but about providing more help patients and their familiesa journey that they're really notinformation earlier, at the beginning understand palliative care. To beprepared for and they don't evenof the diagnosis, so that people know honest, it was born out of frustration.know what they don't know. Andwhat to expect and can prepare. The Having cared for thousands of peoplethere's a cumulative set of problemsbook is written for the patient but its and listened to their illness journeys,that happen on the conveyor belt ofalso for family and caregivers andit became very clear that theirhealth care that culminate and amplifycare providers. stories were shining light on a verysuffering at the end of life. problematic illness experience thatWhen you break it down, palliative started almost right from the time The thinking was, our approachcare is just about very patient and of diagnosis.shouldnt just be about supporting thefamily-centred care. But we often 18 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2023"