End-of-Life Choice & Planning
Many people have peaceful, natural deaths – the kind we all hope for. But that is not the way all of us will die.
Some people die suddenly, unexpectedly, and others die in tremendous pain for days, weeks, or months years before they finally die. Too often, the elderly and frail are put on life-support, and their dying only takes place when the tubes are removed – many without loved ones at their side.
That is not planning, and it is not a choice. Let’s change that for you and your loved ones.
Next: Understanding Grief
Understanding Palliative Care & Hospice: In the Community and In-Facility
All of hospice care is palliative care… but not all palliative care is hospice. Hospice is the last stage of palliative care for the end of life. Read more
Understanding Organ & Body Donation
Have you ever thought of being an organ donor or donating your body to science? This is an overview of what is involved.
Body and organ donation are quite different in eligibility and criteria and a completely different application process.
Understanding the Expected Death in the Home Form
If you wish to plan for an expected natural or MAiD death at home and with the EDitH form in place: the death does not need to be ‘pronounced’; the funeral home can pick up the body; and most importantly, paramedics, police and the coroner will not have to attend, which is required under law for an unexpected or suspicious death.
Understanding Your Choice at End of Life
It is more important than ever to be proactive and be assertive, and plan in all possible ways for the way you want your story to end. Due to chronic lack-of-funding, the healthcare system is overburdened, and as a result, our choice has largely been taken away. There are not enough hospices and palliative care units. For those who want to die at home, there simply is not enough staff and not enough resources. That is not planning and it is not choice. Let’s change that for you and your loved ones.
Understanding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
This is a straightforward and thorough guide to MAiD. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is a legal choice for Canadian capable adults over 18 who want to end their lives when they are suffering grievously from a condition that has been deemed impossible to cure.
Understanding Advance Requests for MAiD
This article is a deep-dive into Advance Requests for MAiD, and what it will mean for our choice at end of life. An advance request for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is a request created in advance of a loss of decision-making capacity, intended to be acted upon under the circumstances outlined in the request after the person has lost decisional capacity (competency).
Dying with Dignity Canada (DWDC) list of BC Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) resources
Government, MAiD forms, Government of Canada MAiD Legislation, Special Joint Committee on MAiD, MAiD Reports, Virtual Hospice, Bereavements Services, support groups, disability support services, ACP resources to supplement DWDC’s ACP kit, Nidus, HealthCare resources, and other end-of-life groups.
Navigating the BC Healthcare System
by Connie Jorsvik
After two years and hundreds of hours, I am pleased to introduce my latest book, which I believe is the most thorough resource on this topic available to date. If you are a patient or a care partner in our fast-paced and fragmented healthcare system, this is a step-by-step guide to surviving, and thriving.
