Angela Plouffe - End of Life Community Advocate

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What Bereaved Children Want to Know About Death and Grief?
check out the full study here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-023-02694-x

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Safe Driving Saves Lives

The roads are busier in the summer months. As vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians share the roads, this is a time when there appears to be an uptick in road fatalities. We all have a part to making the roadways across our nation a safer place.

Please pay attention to all those who are on the road with you, other drivers, people riding their bikes and those walking on sidewalks or the road if there are no sidewalks. Be patient towards children, seniors and those who may need additional time to cross the roads you are driving. By not rushing, you will still arrive at your destination and maybe save someone’s life.

Avoid activities that increase risks for all, on the road. Follow speed limits, drive sober and avoid the use of mobile devices while operating a vehicle. The key is to focus on the task at hand, the safe and mindful operation of your vehicle.

Each year we see new road side memorials, dedicated to someone who has tragically been killed. These are sad reminders that life is fragile and the roads can be a dangerous place from time to time. We all have a part to play, making them safer.

© Affinity Funeral Service/CFHC Online

✨ Monday, September 23, 6pm - 7:30pm
@ the Whitecourt Library✨

Q: What is a Death Cafe?

A: It is a gathering of people, often strangers, to discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.
A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Please see the poster and below links for more information 😊

https://youtu.be/iVMBCZjk4c0

https://deathcafe.com/what/

🤍 The National Voice for Hospice Palliative Care in Canada 🤍

Home - CHPCA The National Voice for Hospice Palliative Care in Canada Advancing and advocating for quality hospice palliative care in Canada through public education, awareness, and public policy. Learn More CHPCA Initiatives Initiative Advance Care Planning Canada Led by CHPCA, Advance Care Planning Canada focu...

🤍 What do you think about writing your own obituary? 🤍

🤍 Some information on MAID 🤍

The Key Steps of MAID

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is an intrinsically personal and complex issue. Several safeguards exist to ensure it’s the right decision for those suffering from a grievous and irremediable condition. If considering MAID, the key steps include:

1. Medical Assessments: Two independent medical assessments are conducted – including one that is by an expert on the condition. Assessment will also ensure that alternative methods to ease the pain have been explored. Eligibility assessments take 90 days, but can be expedited if someone is at risk of losing the capacity to make their own health-care decisions.

2. Written Request: A written request must be submitted and must be signed by an independent witness. While it is unnecessary to inform family or friends of your decision, it is strongly recommended to talk about your choice. Even if there is disagreement, they cannot overrule this decision.

3. Final Consent: Prior to the procedure, final consent is required. Those considering this procedure can withdraw consent at any time including on the scheduled MAID day.

4. Day Of: The decision to have family or friends present is an individual one, as is the location. Several drugs are administered during the course of MAID, the first one causing the recipient to fall asleep.

Since federal legislation was passed to approve this procedure in June 2016, more than 31,000 Canadians have ended their suffering and have died using MAID.

© Affinity Funeral Service/CFHC Online

🤍 Today is Death Cafe, 6pm - 7:30pm @ Whitecourt & District Public Library 🤍

✨ Monday, July 15th, 6pm - 7:30pm
@ the Whitecourt Library✨

Q: What is a Death Cafe?

A: It is a gathering of people, often strangers, to discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.
A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Please see the poster and below links for more information 😊

https://youtu.be/iVMBCZjk4c0

https://deathcafe.com/what/

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Bereaved Parents

It is said that when you lose your parents; you become an orphan. When your spouse dies you become a widow or widower. When a child dies, there are no words to describe a grieving parent.

The human brain is hardwired with certain expectations in life. Grandparents will die, parents will eventually die, and male spouses are more likely to die before their female partner. Children and grandchildren will outlive parents and grandparents. Thinking otherwise goes against our preconceived notions about life.

The loss of a child compares to no other loss. Their death erases any hopes and dreams that parents may have previously held. Not being able to share in the future life of a child further complicates a parent’s grief. This grieving is often compounded by sadness of other close family members and friends.
The loss of a child can have a major impact on the dynamics of a family. Family members experience different grieving styles. An intuitive griever processes grief mostly through tears while the instrumental griever tends to show less emotion while focusing on mental and physical actions. A dissonant griever is one that tries to adapt to be accepted by others, thereby delaying their own recovery. If the family unit has individual members experiencing different styles of grieving, this can create misunderstanding within. In fact, in some instances, couples actually separate following the death of a child … while with other couples, sharing this most difficult journey brings them closer.

The loss of a child is a traumatic event for any parent. Almost all grief professionals agree that this type of grieving is complicated.

July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. If you know someone who has lost a child, whether it be recently or in the distant past, reach out to them with kind words. Having the support of loving family and friends is sure to be recognized and appreciated.

Bertha Brannen
Bereavement Group Leader

© Affinity Funeral Service/CFHC Online

🤍 Free online discussion 🤍

Join us on Tuesday, July 9th at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET for a free online discussion with Hospice nurse julie and death and grief specialist, David Kessler to demystify death. info at https://bit.ly/4cAcPKk

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📕I would like to share this book once again as I believe it’s a great resource if you have been recently diagnosed with a life changing illness, if you are a caregiver, if you work in the medical field and if you are ever going to age/die…so basically, it’s for everyone 😊

🌟 Why do I like it?

Because:

1. It gives practical tools and resources that are easy to understand to help you navigate through the medical system.
The 7 Keys are very useful

2. Offers conversations starters to have with loved ones

3. It’s written by Canadian authors so information may be more relevant for you.
Both authors are very knowledgeable as one is a medical researcher and the other is a Palliative Doctor

🌟 It’s also available on audiobook

🌟 You can are follow them and listen to their podcast Waiting Room Revolution

❓Have you read/listened to it?
Please let us know what you think of it 😊
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grief demands different
things from you every day.

some days, you’re able
to get a lot done.
you’re able to smile
and be fully present with people.
everything feels fully balanced
and manageable…steady.

but other days,
even normal daily tasks
feel impossible to balance.
and despite your best efforts,
you can’t do it all.
you try and build your schedule
to match the day before,
but it wobbles and leans
and comes crashing down at your feet.

grief will demand
different things of you every day.
some days will be
harder than others,
but please don’t be
harder on yourself
because of it.

the harder days
need the most kindness
the most support
the most gentleness.

if today is a harder day,
i’m praying with you
i’m hurting with you.
i’m holding on to hope with you.

-Liz Newman

What do you suggest? 🤍

Just after a death there is a lot of activity but once the funeral is over, life goes on for others but not for those who grieve. They can feel isolated and empty. Based on your experience, what would you suggest that would be helpful to support the person in the days and weeks following the funeral?

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While many are celebrating their Dads today, there are others who find this day hard, for lots of reasons. Whether you want to spend the day honouring your father or avoiding it all together, it's okay.

🤍Interesting death facts 🤍
…check out the Pringle’s Chips one

30 facts about death you may (or may not) want to know

https://theamateursguide.com/2024/06/12/30-facts-about-death-you-may-or-may-not-want-to-know/

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Final weeks and days: What to expect Final weeks and days: What to expect By: The Canadian Virtual Hospice Team As serious illness progresses or as the body weakens with age (

🩵 Tuesday, June 11th 💜

Whitecourt Cancer Support Group meeting tomorrow, Tuesday June 11 @ noon- Mountain Pizza & Steakhouse. Call Heather at 780-268-3376 for more information

✨ Monday, July 15th, 6pm - 7:30pm
@ the Whitecourt Library✨

Q: What is a Death Cafe?

A: It is a gathering of people, often strangers, to discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.
A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Please see the poster and below links for more information 😊

https://youtu.be/iVMBCZjk4c0

https://deathcafe.com/what/

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This year, June 2nd marks National Cancer Survivors Day! It is estimated in Canada that there are over 1.5 million people living with cancer. Today is a day to stand alongside the cancer survivors in our communities and make a commitment to lessening the burden of cancer survivorship.

Today, we celebrate the personal milestones, no matter how small. We celebrate the research initiatives, the medical breakthroughs, and the legislative victories. We celebrate the researchers, the advocates, the doctors, the nurses, the caregivers – and the survivors.

Today, we celebrate life. Because cancer survivorship isn’t about just being alive. It’s about living life as fully as possible.
And we believe all cancer survivors deserve a life with less complication and more celebration.

I am truly grateful and honoured to have been nominated for and also for receiving this award 🤍🙏

My first memory of volunteering is when I was in grade 4 and I would miss my recesses to spend time with a boy with special needs. This is when I learned some basic sign language and still remember the alphabet lol

Since then, I have continued to volunteer through my life-it’s just in me.

I also have never found myself afraid of being around people during the end of life. I remember visiting the auxiliary after school in grade 6, being in the hospital room with dying family members, and attending many funerals. I never thought of death as being dark or morbid, rather just a part of life.

People say, “it takes a special person to be with dying people”.
I just believe that I am a human helping humans through a human experience. Everyone deserves to die with dignity, in comfort and to not feel like they are being abandoned/alone. Families deserve to be empowered and supported through their difficult time.

Hopefully through continued conversations and support, death can be something we can all talk about 🤍

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Congratulations to Angela Plouffe the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Donna Wilson Caregiver Award!

🎉 Great news for Whitecourt!! 🎉

Whitecourt Welcomes Nurse Practitioner

The McLeod River Primary Care Network is pleased to announce that Whitecourt resident and Nurse Practitioner Tiffany Woodward is now working out of the McLeod River PCN central office in Whitecourt – assisting local physicians in providing comprehensive care to the community and supporting the Patient’s Medical Home model of team-based care.

Nurse Practitioners are experienced Registered Nurses with a Master’s Degree. They are equipped with essential skills to diagnose and treat a wide range of common illnesses and injuries for clients of all ages. They can also prescribe medication and order diagnostic tests.

At the McLeod River PCN, our new Nurse Practitioner offers preventative screening care, and same-day appointments.

Patients can phone the McLeod River PCN to book a same-day appointment at 780-779-0079.

Learn more about the McLeod River PCN at www.mrpcn.ca

After hundreds of hours listening to podcasts about death and dieing, I feel this one is quite valuable.

Warning that it is quite specific with what happens at end of life 🤍

🤍 The importance of having a will no matter your age 🤍

Dying Without A Will In Canada Find out what happens if you die without a will (intestate) in Canada and how you can prevent undue burden on your family by preparing a will in advance.

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Blessings are a kind of energetic wave that carry a frequency of healing and love to their recipient.

When we offer a blessing like this for the dead, we channel the palpable energy of our love and good wishes on their behalf. This energy is real, and it matters. It gives the person who's died the fuel they need to let go of this shore, and to cross the river to the Village of the Ancestors.

Words have power. Literally.
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Dr. Sarah Kerr, PhD
Ritual skills training for death doulas and others
Download a free guide at www.sacreddeathcare.com

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Youth Grief | When someone close to you dies, everything can feel different. It’s hard to find people who “get it,” so Youthgrief.ca was created with and for grieving youth, so you know you’re not alone. “I felt so sad and alone after they died… Coming here helped.” What I'm going through Friends and people around you Grief and what it’s like School and everything that comes with it Missing & remembering people Advice from youth to youth Family and relatives Supporting grieving young people ...

Tuesday in Whitecourt

Join us tomorrow May 14 @ noon Mountain Pizza & Steakhouse Whitecourt

🤍 Monday, May 13th 🤍

✨ Monday, May 13, 6pm - 7:30pm
@ the Whitecourt Library✨

Q: What is a Death Cafe?

A: It is a gathering of people, often strangers, to discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.
A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Please see the poster and below links for more information 😊

https://youtu.be/iVMBCZjk4c0

https://deathcafe.com/what/