Topics
By: CVH Team Palliative care is still widely misunderstood by many Canadians. Here are 10 common myths we often encounter. Help dispel these myths by sharing the facts with family members and friends, colleagues, patients and clients. 1. read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is palliative care ? Palliative care supports people who are living with a life-threatening illness, condition, or health situation. It treats the whole person and their family and not just the disease,... read more...
By: Lysa Toye MSW, RSW, DipEXAT (An explanatory note: Adults caring for children are not always their parents. They may be grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings or foster parents - particularly when the person in a family who is dying, or... read more...
By: Lysa Toye MSW, RSW, DipEXAT (An explanatory note: Adults caring for children are not always their parents. They may be grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings or foster parents - particularly when the person in a family who is dying, or... read more...
By: CVH Team When grief goes viral The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives all over the world. Many people are struggling with ongoing change and uncertainty about safety and have worries about the future, finances, and the well-being of friends... read more...
By: CVH Team If someone you care about is seriously ill or dying, the pandemic has likely affected you in ways that you may not have been able to imagine. The public health restrictions that are designed to contain the spread of the virus... read more...
By: CVH Team The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live and how we grieve in ways we would not have expected to be possible. If someone close to you died before or during COVID, you are finding your way through grief in unprecedented and... read more...
By: Lisa Robinson, MSW, RSW Introduction As an educator, you will encounter grief in the classroom. The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the volume and complexity of grief affecting students. Whether it is an individual death impacting one student... read more...
By: Lisa Robinson MSW, RSW Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting how we live and how we grieve, regardless of the cause of death. Adults and children are all impacted by the collective grief the world is feeling and the severing of... read more...
By: Fred Nelson MSW, RSW “The moment we heard about Dad’s cancer diagnosis, everything changed in our family. My sister has always been kind of withdrawn. Well, she started to take over. I felt like my own world had ground to a halt; I couldn’t... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA Mindfulness is a practice that helps you connect with what you are experiencing in the present. Research has shown that mindfulness can positively affect your sense of well-being, even in the midst of illness. read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA Poignant and powerful memories often come unbidden at the end of life. As you try to come to terms with the fact that your life is ending, you naturally begin to recall where you have been, what you have done,... read more...
Sources of stress The physical problems that may accompany a life-limiting illness are the most obvious sources of stress. However, the stress related to the illness may often be increased by practical and emotional problems and by family and... read more...
By: Catherine Traer-Martinez RMT, MEd, RCC What is anxiety ? Anxiety is nervous tension. It’s an emotional and physical state that includes some combination of fear, uneasiness and worry. Thinking about progressive changes in your health... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA What is hope? For people who are healthy, hope is linked to the future and to the plans and wishes you have for the future. A serious illness puts question marks over how much future you will have and what it... read more...
By: Andrea Warnick RN, MA Dying and death are natural processes in the circle of life. Yet, our experiences of these processes have changed dramatically over the last century. Most responsible for this change is the advancement of modern medicine. read more...
By: Anne Katz PhD, RN, FAAN Sexuality is much more than having sex even though many people think only about sexual intercourse when they hear the word. Sexuality is sometimes thought of as intimacy; the real meaning of ‘intimacy’ is emotional... read more...
By: Fred Nelson MSW, RSW You and your family are likely to experience all kinds of thoughts and feelings over the course of your illness. None of the feelings described below will capture exactly what you are feeling. Everyone’s experience will... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA Grieving the death of a family member or close friend is hard, exhausting work. This work may be especially difficult during holiday seasons, and other days that are filled with family and community traditions,... read more...
By: Fred Nelson MSW, RSW What is grief? Grief is a multi-faceted human response to loss. Grief work emphasizes that grief is a process that we engage in as active participants. Grief demands attention, refusing to go away automatically with... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA If a life-limiting illness has intruded into your life, you are probably experiencing tremendous upheaval. Most of us spend much of our lives trying to avoid thinking too much about the end of life. Now, you... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA How a spiritual companion can help A spiritual companion is someone who listens to you and is with you as you face the challenges of your illness. This person can help you to identify resources you already... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA For most adults, good health and the ability to make personal choices are basic to meaningful living. You find meaning in working and earning a living, in your choices about recreation and leisure, and in controlling... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA Rituals can help you and your family get through difficult times. Gathering together as a family to take part in a specific activity is one way to bring people together meaningfully. Your family may have a favorite... read more...
By : Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA The death of a family member may be one of the most significant experiences of your life. Witnessing the end of someone’s life is extraordinary and possibly life-changing, no matter what the relationship has... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA If you have a serious illness, you likely have had to tell the story of your illness many times – to doctors, nurses, and other health care providers; to your employer and your work associates; to your family,... read more...
Symptoms & Health Concerns
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is swelling of the belly? Belly swelling The belly is the area of the body that includes all the digestive organs – stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and spleen. Belly... read more...
By: Canadian Virtual Hospice Team Unfortunately, many myths and misunderstandings about opioids prevent people from receiving adequate pain control. This article discusses some of these concerns. Won’t I become addicted? It’s very uncommon for... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team Consider the following Take only the amount of medication that has been prescribed. If you have concerns about the medication or its dosage, talk with your healthcare provider. Medication should never be... read more...
By: Mike Harlos MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP Sorting out health concerns When health care providers are faced with a health concern, they try to sort out what could be causing the problem. Treatment will vary from person to person, depending on the cause... read more...
By: Cornelius Woelk MD, CCFP, FCFP , Mike Harlos MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP and Pat Murphy BEd, MEd Dave's story Dave had a family history of heart disease. He had his first heart attack when he was 51. When he was 55 he had coronary bypass surgery. read more...
By: Mike Harlos MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP What is confusion? Confusion occurs when a person’s brain is not functioning properly. People experiencing confusion have problems remembering, paying attention, speaking, thinking, reasoning, and understanding... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is constipation ? On average, people have a bowel movement once or twice a day, but some go more or less often. Most people have at least one bowel movement every three days. We say that someone... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is dehydration ? Our bodies need an appropriate amount of fluid to function properly. When we don't have enough fluids in our bodies, we’re dehydrated. When we have enough fluids, we’re hydrated. When... read more...
By: Mike Harlos MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP What is depression ? Depression is a medical condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Doctors now know that depression has a biological or chemical basis, so people cannot “shake off” depression... read more...
By: Mike Harlos MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP What is fatigue ? Fatigue is a feeling of extreme tiredness or a complete lack of energy. Everyone has experienced fatigue at one time or another. When we don’t get enough rest or sleep, eat poorly, or do too... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is loss of appetite and loss of weight? When someone is living with a serious illness that can’t be cured, they will typically experience an ongoing decline in strength and energy. There is almost... read more...
By: Sarah Brown BSc, RN, MN, CNS What is a malignant wound? A malignant wound is an open cancerous lesion of the skin, which may be draining. It may look like a cavity or open area on the surface of the skin. It may also appear as skin bumps... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is nausea and vomiting? Nausea Nausea is a sick or uncomfortable feeling in the stomach, often described as an urge to vomit or throw up. Some people describe it as an uncomfortable feeling at the... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is pain ? Pain is one way that your body lets you know there’s a problem. It’s common with most serious illnesses to have some pain. Most of the time, pain can be controlled. Everyone experiences... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team What is shortness of breath? “Air hunger” The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea . This has been defined as “an uncomfortable awareness of breathing.” It’s also often referred to as air hunger. read more...
By: Brenda Hearson RN, MN, CHPCN(C), CNS We all need sleep to maintain our ability to function physically and mentally, as well as to maintain our sense of well-being and quality of life . Yet, sleep disturbance is a symptom that is commonly... read more...
By: Romayne Gallagher MD, CCFP Swallowing problems in degenerative brain diseases People who have degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, other dementias, Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease),... read more...
Adequate sleep is essential to staying healthy and functioning well. You need sleep to do your daily work safely, to cope with emotional stress, and to carry on giving care. Yet if you are caring for someone at home or sitting with someone round... read more...
By: CVH Team Whether you are caring for someone full-time or even just occasionally helping out, caregiving can be mentally, physically and emotionally demanding. Although taking time for yourself is often easier said than done, pushing yourself... read more...
By: Simone Stenekes RN, MN, CHPCN(C), CNS and Lisa Streeter Medications are commonly used to help manage pain or other symptoms that are troubling. It is important to know about the medications that you are prescribed: how much to take, when... read more...
By: CVH Team A person living with an advancing illness will not eat as much as they once did. While it is important not to become too focused on increasing the amount of food a person eats, there are a number of strategies that can be used to... read more...
By: CVH Team Many people with advanced illness experience significant mouth problems, which can affect their quality of life . Common problems include dry mouth, lips, and throat; open sores; yeast infections; or discomfort with dentures and... read more...
By: CVH Team Caring for hair Illness tends to make people perspire, making their hair damp and sometimes tangled. Brushing someone’s hair regularly can be a thoughtful gesture. Hair can be washed in the shower or tub, at the kitchen table with... read more...
By: CVH Team Most people find bathing or showering refreshing. However, tub baths and even showers may become more difficult as illness progresses. Here are some ideas for making bathing comfortable and safe. General Tips Buy or rent equipment... read more...
By: CVH Team For some people, the prospect of either giving or receiving assistance with toileting can be a source of embarrassment. A matter-of-fact approach is best. If the person is able to get to the bathroom, consider whether the environment... read more...
By: CVH Team Anyone who remains lying or sitting in one position for more than a couple of hours is at risk for skin breakdown. This can lead to pressure sores, which are also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores. These skin problems can be... read more...
By: Lysa Toye MSW, RSW, DipEXAT (An explanatory note: Adults caring for children are not always their parents. They may be grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings or foster parents - particularly when the person in a family who is dying, or... read more...
By: Brenda Hearson RN, MN, CHPCN(C), CNS and Cornelius Woelk MD, CCFP, FCFP Good communication is an important part of good health care. Some people find it hard to talk to their doctor or health care team, especially about serious illness or... read more...
By: CVH Team Visits from friends can be uplifting, both for the person who is ill and their families. However, as the person becomes weaker, or as caregiving becomes more demanding, families may not have enough energy to meet with visitors. read more...
By: Susan McClement RN, PhD and Simone Stenekes RN, MN, CHPCN(C), CNS Explaining the serious illness of a family member or friend to a child or youth can seem overwhelming. Adults who are themselves feeling emotions related to a family member’s... read more...
By: Andrea Warnick RN, MA Parents want to protect their children from emotional pain and suffering. This natural parental urge can be difficult to balance with the desire to be honest and upfront about harsh realities, such as talking about... read more...
By: CVH Team You may be nervous about talking to someone who is not expected to live much longer. The big question is often whether to be up front and talk about the illness or try to ignore it. The best advice is to be yourself. Be open to... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA Knowing what to say to someone who is dying and when to say it can be difficult. The following tips may be useful at any point during a serious illness, but especially when the person is not expected to live... read more...
When someone you know dies, you are affected in one way or another. The depth of your relationship with the person who has died or their family or friends affects how you might offer support. By offering condolences, or expressions of comfort... read more...
By: Mike Harlos MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP Making decisions about health care can seem overwhelming at times. The issues are often complex and involve subjects that we’re not used to thinking about in our day-to-day lives. The intensity of decision... read more...
By: CVH Team Health care directives A health care directive is a document that outline treatment decisions that a patient has asked to be followed if they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves. This document is sometimes... read more...
Each of us is encouraged to think about, talk about and tell people our wishes for the type of health care we want to receive at some point in the future. This process is called advance care planning . If you are living with a serious health... read more...
By: Pat Murphy BEd, MEd and George Webster BA, MA, MDiv, DMin My mother died nine months ago after my brother and I decided to stop all the medical interventions that were prolonging her life. My mom had asked us to make health care decisions... read more...
Many Canadians say they would like to die at home, probably because home feels comfortable and familiar. Yet, most of us aren’t aware of what supporting a death at home might involve. The purpose of this article is to outline some of the potential... read more...
By: Romayne Gallagher MD, CCFP Three terms that may arise in end-of-life care discussions are ‘withholding treatment’, ‘withdrawing treatment’ and ‘palliative sedation ’. They are often misunderstood and sometimes confusedmedical assistance... read more...
To fill a national gap in accessible, trusted resources, Canadian Virtual Hospice and our National MAiD Working Group are pleased to launch a suite of tools for the public and people working in healthcare. Available in English and French, the... read more...
By: CVH Team During the first few days after a death, grieving family members or friends have many demands placed on them in preparation for a funeral. What kind of funeral should it be? Should the person be buried or cremated? What do you... read more...
By: CVH Team What is a will? A will is a legal, written document that sets out how you want your property and possessions to be distributed after your death. A will also names an executor – the person who will look after your estate after your... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA For cultural, traditional or personal reasons, you may wish to have a viewing, wake or funeral in your home. The following tasks are all part of a home funeral. You can involve a funeral home for assistance or... read more...
By: CVH Team Disability benefits Canada Pension Plan The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is best known as a retirement pension, but it also provides disability benefits to CPP contributors and their families. If you have children and are receiving... read more...
By: CVH Team Caregiver benefits Caregiver benefits through Canada Employment Insurance Since 2004, the Government of Canada has offered a Compassionate Care Benefit to Canadians who need time off from work to care for a seriously ill family... read more...
By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team As serious illness progresses or as the body weakens with age (which may include multiple diseases), changes are common. These changes can affect how a person’s body functions, how they may communicate,... read more...
By Andrea Warnick RN, MA When a family member or friend is dying, many parents struggle with how much of the dying process they should allow their children to witness. It is not uncommon for a dying adult, who lives with their children or grandchildren,... read more...
By: CVH Team When an expected death occurs after a long illness, it can seem unbelievable. The whole situation may feel unreal, and difficult to grasp what has actually happened. Even if you think you have prepared yourself – at least intellectually... read more...
By: Glen R. Horst MDiv, DMin, BA Family members or close friends may choose to be involved in washing and dressing the body after death has occurred. Caring for a body is not easy and can stir up strong emotions. See Moments After a Death . read more...