Manitoba Family Urges Action as Grandmother Waits for Hospice Care

A Winnipeg family is advocating for urgent reforms as their grandmother, Lorna Teague, waits for a hospice bed to receive end-of-life care. Teague, aged 87, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given only three months to live following a recent hospital admission. Her granddaughter, Ashley Casson, voiced her frustration, stating, “People in Manitoba are waiting for a bed that doesn’t exist, a hospice bed that doesn’t exist.”

Teague was initially admitted to Grace Hospital after suffering a broken pelvis. During her treatment, doctors discovered a cancerous mass that had metastasized. With her prognosis confirmed, the family recognized the necessity of hospice care. Unfortunately, accessing such services in Manitoba has proven exceedingly difficult.

Currently, Manitoba has only 16 hospice beds available in Winnipeg, a number that falls far short of the recommended standard. Casson highlighted the disparity, noting, “The recommended number of hospice beds is seven to ten per 100,000 people.” According to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, Manitoba had the lowest ratio of hospice beds in Canada in 2022, with just 1.15 beds per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 3.97.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) confirmed that five individuals are currently on a waiting list for hospice beds. Casson expressed her sadness regarding the situation, stating, “For people who don’t have much time to live, the fact that they’re on a waitlist competing for just a peaceful place to die with that many other people is pretty sad.”

As of 2025, the WRHA stated that the number of hospice beds in Winnipeg remains at 16, with 12 located at Grace Hospice and four at Jocelyn House. A representative from the WRHA commented, “Wait times for hospice care can vary, ranging from just a few days to approximately six to eight weeks.”

In response to the growing concern, Uzoma Asagwara, the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, announced a dedicated provincial team focused on improving palliative and end-of-life care across Manitoba. Asagwara’s statement emphasized the collaboration of front-line providers and experts to enhance care planning.

Despite these efforts, for Casson, the ongoing wait is heartbreaking. “My nana only has one other person in her room, but it’s just – there’s no privacy,” she lamented. “There’s no dignity. It’s just inhumane how people are expected to spend the last few months of their life.”

Asagwara further noted that a new subcommittee is developing a three-year plan to implement national palliative care standards. He also indicated that expansions in hospice facilities are in progress in various regions to address this critical issue.

The situation highlights a pressing need for systemic changes in end-of-life care services in Manitoba, as families like Teague’s continue to navigate the challenges of securing compassionate care during their most vulnerable times.