South Surrey family criticizes lack of hospice care for senior

The family of Donald Reagh, a 91-year-old senior from South Surrey, is speaking out after he died in a long-term care facility while waiting for hospice placement. Despite a terminal cancer diagnosis and recommendations from his GP, the family was unable to secure the specialized end-of-life care they sought.

Donald’s son, Barry, described the experience as a failure of care, stating his father died alone in a facility not designed for active end-of-life support. The family has raised concerns regarding delays and a lack of responsiveness from health authorities.

Fraser Health officials expressed condolences and stated that their Patient Care Quality Office is working to support the family. The health authority maintained that their care teams work to provide compassionate palliative approaches within long-term care communities.