End-of-Life
End-of-life care is when teams of people, like health care professionals, support people who are very sick and near the end of their lives. They make sure the person gets their wishes met, are not in pain, and provide support to caregivers as well.
This sections includes resources for end-of-life care, including services and teams that help with these important needs.
BC Hospice Palliative Care Association
The BC Hospice Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) has been representing individuals and organizations committed to promoting and delivering hospice/palliative care to British Columbians since 1986. Its members provide a broad range of services across the province to people who are dying and to their loved ones who are grieving.
Learn more about the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association here.
BC Palliative Care Benefits Program (Plan P)
Care at the End of Life
Care at the End of Life is a resource that Health link BC provides regarding guidance for important health and end of life care decisions, where to receive care, the dying process, and other topics.
Learn more about Care at the End of Life here.
Creating a book of memories
A book of memories commemorates the death of a loved one and highlights the importance of their relationship to survivors. For people with developmental disabilities, creating a book of memories may be a concrete way to help remember deceased loved ones. Working on the book with a support person provides a concrete time for memories and recollection.
Learn about creating a book of memories here.
End-of-Life-Care
The B.C. Government’s website explains how end-of-life care focuses on comfort and quality of life for people nearing the end of their lives. It talks about services like pain management, psychological support and access to medical supplies, which can be provided at home, in hospice or in long-term care.
Learn more about End-of-Life-Care in B.C. here.
End of Life Doula Association of Canada
This association supports people to access an end-of-life doula in their community.
An end-of-life doula is someone who helps people and their families during the time when someone is dying. They provide emotional support, help with practical needs and make sure the person’s wishes for their end-of-life care are respected.
Learn more about the End of Life Doula Association of Canada here.
Expected / Planned Home Deaths
Gone too Soon: Navigating grief and loss as a result of substance use
For some people, their instinctive response to pain and loss is to isolate themselves. Others may find themselves feeling isolated due to the stigma associated with drug use and the responses they receive when they talk about having lost a loved one to substance use-related harms such as overdose. You don’t have to grieve alone and may find it very helpful to talk to a professional or to others who have experienced similar losses.
Read the online handbook Gone too Soon: Navigating grief and loss as a result of substance use here.
My Grief - Learning Modules
Losing someone can be very challenging. This website provides access to helpful learning modules with steps to move through the grief.
Visit: MyGrief.ca
No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Form
A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is a legal document. It means a person has decided not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempted on them if their heart or breathing stops.
Anyone who changes their wishes about their no CPR preference, should inform their doctor, nurse practitioner or care facility nurse, tear up the No CPR form, and contact MedicAlert if they are enrolled with them for a No CPR bracelet or necklet.
Find the No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Form here.
The Victoria & Stuart Project: End of Life Care Planning with People with Learning Disabilities
The Victoria & Stuart Project: End of Life Care Planning with People with Learning Disabilities is a toolkit that helps people plan for what they want at the end of their life. It gives simple activities, pictures, and ideas to help them talk about being sick, dying, and what matters to them.
Learn more about the Victoria & Stuart Project here.
Video: Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience many different kinds of losses
After Death Checklist
The BC Government provides an After Death Checklist for managing an individual’s affairs after death. This resource is about what to do after someone dies and has information to help people stay organized during a hard time. It explains simple steps like who to call, how to plan a funeral, and how to take care of the person’s belongings and important papers. It also helps families remember important tasks, like telling others, getting support, and closing accounts, so nothing important is missed.
View the After Death Checklist here.
Funeral Resources
Funeral Service Association of BC
The Funeral Service Association of BC is a funeral home service with information about how families can plan funerals and take care of a loved one after they die. It explains that funeral homes help with things like preparing the person who died, planning a ceremony (like a funeral or celebration of life), and supporting families with decisions during a hard time.
Learn more about the Funeral Service Association of BC here.
Guide on Death and Dying: An Informational Handbook for Family and Friends
The Guide on Death and Dying: An Informational Handbook for Family and Friends is a guide about death and dying and has information to help people understand what happens when someone is near the end of life and after they die. It explains things like how grief works, what funeral choices exist, and how families and communities can support each other during this time. It also talks about how different people and cultures may have different ways of saying goodbye and remembering someone.
Read the full guide here.
Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction resources
