endpath care

A fun way to support an important part of our community.

Are you registered for the Hike for Hospice ?

We encourage ‘hikers’ of all ages and abilities, as well as their beloved four-legged friends, to join us in Polson Park on June 5th. “Hikers” gather donations and pledges from their supporters to benefit the charity by creating or joining a team by clicking the link below.

You can also pick up a pledge sheet at our office or request one by email at [email protected].

Please visit our website at https://nohs.ca/hikeforhospice2022 and pledge your support now.

We look forward to seeing you all on June 5th!

Although I support people and families at any stage of their serious illness diagnosis, end of life care is an important component of the work I do and something that I'm very passionate about.

I'm excited to now be a full member of the End of Life Doula Association of Canada and can be found on their roster. https://endoflifedoulaassociation.org/membership-roster/

Have a quick read of the post below to learn a bit about how endpath care can assist. If you have questions, please reach out to me via email or phone. I'm always happy to connect!

Hire an End of Life Doula!

An End of Life Doula is someone who supports a person faced with an illness or terminal diagnosis. The End of Life Doula can educate, advocate for, and empower clients by starting the conversation about death and embracing the dying process early. By aligning the clients needs with their expectations and wishes, the End of Life Doula can significantly improve the quality and dignity of the end of life journey.

Some of their tasks and skills may include:

*Advocate for the best possible experience for the client

*Understand the physiology of death and the complexity of emotions that go along with the diagnosis of a terminal illness

*Assist clients in creating and carrying out their health care treatment decisions

*Are knowledgeable about legalities, options, and tools in Canada

*Provide emotional, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint

*Providing information needed to make informed care decisions

*Facilitate communication between client, family and other care providers

*Protect the client’s dignity and the family’s memory during the death experience

*Allow the family to participate at their own comfort level

The End of Life Doula Association of Canada provides a referral service to suit your needs. All of our doulas train from a recognized end of life care program, provide a current criminal record check and have agreed to the code of ethics set out by the EOLDAC. Members are also required to keep up-to-date with Government and Health agency policies and the resources those agencies make available, in addition to maintaining on-going training every two years.

Our mandate is quality care and we strive to achieve this by having the highest standards for membership. We will work with you and your family to find the right doula for you.

Check out our member roster for a Doula that would suit your needs.

Link:
https://endoflifedoulaassociation.org/membership-roster/

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As a follow up to my last post, here are a few ideas to get you thinking about how you might honour your loved one on the anniversary of their death (aka, their deathaversary). Thank you to those who shared with me on Instagram and through private message what has helped you on that special day of the year. It is wonderful to connect on this and for new inspiration.

There are countless ways you can uniquely honour your loved one. It can be the same each year, or different. It can be shared with friends and family or spent alone. It can be filled with laughter or with tears. There are no rules other than do what feels right to you. Just remember to take care of yourself.

If you ever need additional support, I am an email or phone call away to companion you in your grief. Take good care!

A wonderful community and a meaningful place to work!

Join our interdisciplinary team here at North Okanagan Hospice Society Our interdisciplinary team here at North Okanagan Hospice Society includes RNs, RCAs, a social worker, a grief counsellor, physicians, pharmacists, support staff, administration staff, trained volunteers and practicum students.

Today marks 23 years since my mom died. Every year on my mom’s deathaversary I have struggled with how to celebrate her. In the past, I have needed to spend it quietly mourning. Other years, I’ve shared tribute to her on my social media pages. This year, I feel like I’m needing more connection, so I have requested stories and memories from people who knew her.

For many years, I felt I needed to create a ritual for this special day but couldn’t come up with something meaningful for me. Rituals on deathaversaries certainly can help grievers, but for me, my heart seems to need something different every year, depending on how I’m feeling at that time. So, I’ve decided to not put the pressure on myself to figure out what I should do and instead let it come to me organically. It might look different from one year to the next.

Honouring your loved one on their deathaversary is uniquely yours. Regardless of how long ago they died, it can help you connect with them and give you time and space to grieve, remember, and love.

Please share what you do to honour your loved ones on their deathaversary. Do you visit their burial site? Light a candle and meditate or pray? Eat their favourite meal? Write a letter to them? Hold a party? Or do you look at pictures of your loved one alone and have a good cry or reminisce with family or friends? Your ideas might inspire someone and help them through this often difficult day.

Thank you for sharing . ❤️

The holiday season often has me thinking about and missing my parents who are no longer with us. I love this song (and these amazingly talented kids!) as a reminder that although we grieve, we can also take comfort in the wonderful memories we have with those we have lost and these memories can help keep us connected with them. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did. Cheers to our loved ones and the memories we have of them! ❤

https://youtu.be/XB6yjGVuzVo

Maroon 5 - Memories | One Voice Children's Choir Cover LIMITED EDITION ALBUM on-sale now: https://store.onevoicechildren.com. All proceeds help fund our non-profit organization. Make a donation to support childre...

Today, I’m taking pause and lighting a candle to reflect on and honour the life of a person I have been supporting. It is such a privilege to have connected with this person and provided companionship and comfort to help ease their transition into another life.

Meaningful rituals are an important way to provide guidance when we are experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions and are unsure of what to do next. Rituals help us process our grief and provide a sense of connectiveness with a person after their death. And, for health care workers experiencing frequent deaths, such as in hospice environments, research says rituals play an important part in increasing compassion and decreasing burnout.

I invite you to consider your own rituals or create something new. Please share the rituals you have in place that have helped you through difficult moments. Perhaps your ritual will help someone create one for themselves.

Our new website is finally live! Visit www.endpathcare.com and have a look around. Learn about who we support, our services, and our approach to care. We will be adding more content soon, so check back for updates. Or, sign up for our mailing list to receive updates and information directly to your inbox.

Dr. Daren Heyland is an engaging speaker and is passionate about helping people effectively communicate to physicians in uncertain times.

Please join us virtually on December 7th for the first day of our Winter Lunch & Learn Series. We are very excited to have our distinguished speaker, Dr. Daren Heyland, a critical care physician, Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University and internationally renowned researcher who will present on Advance Serious Illness Planning.

To register please https://bchpca.org/events/bchpca-winter-lunch-learn-series/

Today, I am taking a moment to acknowledge the many losses and grief of those who served and those who suffered.

In our family, loved ones served in the war and missed out on the births of their children. Wives experienced the ambiguity of not knowing when their husbands would return and grieved the togetherness they once had. We also had family members put in internment camps losing their homes and possessions, dignity, and freedom. For years, their suffering and losses were not acknowledged and is often forgotten.

The grief we experience individually and collectively are not only because of death. Grief can happen because of losses of anything we loved or are important to us.

On this day of remembrance, who are in your thoughts and what are their stories?

Grief is a difficult road to travel. I love this simple but wise tip shared by Williams Lake Hospice. ♥️

Although, we also support people well before end of life, this is a great summary of how endPath Care can support individuals and families as they transition to end of life.

Frequently Asked Questions!

What exactly does an End of Life Doula do?

An End of Life Doula is someone who supports a person faced with an illness or terminal diagnosis.
The End of Life Doula can educate, advocate for, and empower clients by starting the conversation about death and embracing the dying process early. By aligning the clients needs with their expectations and wishes, the End of Life Doula can significantly improve the quality and dignity of the end of life journey.

Some of their tasks and skills may include:

* Advocate for the best possible experience for the client
* Understand the physiology of death and the complexity of emotions that go along with the diagnosis of a terminal illness
* Assist clients in creating and carrying out their health care treatment decisions
* Are knowledgeable about legalities, options, and tools in Canada
* Provide emotional, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint
* Provide information needed to make informed care decisions
* Facilitate communication between client, family and other care providers
* Protect the client’s dignity and the family’s memory during the death experience
* Allow the family to participate at their own comfort level

It's been a bit quiet on my page, as I have been busy planning and managing the Grief, Bereavement & Mental Health Summit with the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association. The Summit begins tomorrow, but it's not too late to register. The Summit is for all everyone impacted by grief and bereavement - those who are grieving, those caring for someone who is grieving, interdisciplinary health care team members, and policy makers, funders and senior stakeholders. We have a full line up of experts and opportunities to contribute to the conversation to improve grief and bereavement support in BC and beyond. Visit www.GBMHSummit.com for more info!

REGISTER NOW - 2 MORE DAYS!

Register for the Grief, Bereavement & Mental Health Summit today! Visit www.GBMHSummit.com

Sheila Malcolmson was elected as MLA for Nanaimo in 2019, re-elected in 2020, and is now the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. She is the Vice-Chair of the Cabinet Working Group on Mental Health, Addictions and Homelessness and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Social Initiatives.

The Honourable Minister Sheila Malcomson will give the Minister’s Address and it will be live streamed on Facebook .palliativecare.

Whether you are a caregiver/griever, a part of a multidisciplinary care team, or a funder or policy maker, please join us at the Grief, Bereavement & Mental Health Summit for this very important conversation. Learn more about the Summit and register today at www.GBMHSummit.com.

SPEAKERS ARE POSTED - REGISTER NOW!

Register for the Grief, Bereavement & Mental Health Summit today! Visit www.GBMHSummit.com

Lauren Clark is a Social Worker at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH). She holds a permanent position in the Medicine Department at the Civic Campus and has been an active member of the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Team at TOH and with the Champlain Regional MAiD Network.

Lauren is deeply passionate about providing families with compassionate support throughout their journey with MAiD and took over the organization after Jan stepped down from day-to-day operations in June 2019.

We are excited to have Lauren’s expertise to speak on, The complexities of MAiD grief.

A good friend shared this with me. Wise words. Take the time to be in the last moment with your loved one. It’s a sad, but special and peaceful time while their spirit is still in the room. There is no rush regardless of the environment (hospital, long term care, home…). We can help preserve that time for you, deal with the background noises and pressures, and honour your space so you can just be. ❤️

Expected Death ~ When someone dies, the first thing to do is nothing. Don't run out and call the nurse. Don't pick up the phone. Take a deep breath and be present to the magnitude of the moment.

There's a grace to being at the bedside of someone you love as they make their transition out of this world. At the moment they take their last breath, there's an incredible sacredness in the space. The veil between the worlds opens.

We're so unprepared and untrained in how to deal with death that sometimes a kind of panic response kicks in. "They're dead!"

We knew they were going to die, so their being dead is not a surprise. It's not a problem to be solved. It's very sad, but it's not cause to panic.

If anything, their death is cause to take a deep breath, to stop, and be really present to what's happening. If you're at home, maybe put on the kettle and make a cup of tea.

Sit at the bedside and just be present to the experience in the room. What's happening for you? What might be happening for them? What other presences are here that might be supporting them on their way? Tune into all the beauty and magic.

Pausing gives your soul a chance to adjust, because no matter how prepared we are, a death is still a shock. If we kick right into "do" mode, and call 911, or call the hospice, we never get a chance to absorb the enormity of the event.

Give yourself five minutes or 10 minutes, or 15 minutes just to be. You'll never get that time back again if you don't take it now.

After that, do the smallest thing you can. Call the one person who needs to be called. Engage whatever systems need to be engaged, but engage them at the very most minimal level. Move really, really, really, slowly, because this is a period where it's easy for body and soul to get separated.

Our bodies can gallop forwards, but sometimes our souls haven't caught up. If you have an opportunity to be quiet and be present, take it. Accept and acclimatize and adjust to what's happening. Then, as the train starts rolling, and all the things that happen after a death kick in, you'll be better prepared.

You won't get a chance to catch your breath later on. You need to do it now.

Being present in the moments after death is an incredible gift to yourself, it's a gift to the people you're with, and it's a gift to the person who's just died. They're just a hair's breath away. They're just starting their new journey in the world without a body. If you keep a calm space around their body, and in the room, they're launched in a more beautiful way. It's a service to both sides of the veil.

~Sarah Kerr, Ritual Healing Practitioner and Death Doula

Last weekend I had to say good-bye to someone I was companioning in my community. I was truly honoured she allowed me to get to know her as a person, while also sharing in her experience with cancer.

We often talked less about her diagnosis and focused on the things that gave her joy: the love of her life for over 60 years; her beloved children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren (her “babies”); travelling; and humour… so much humour! We sat in her yard admiring the flower blooms, breathing the fresh air, feeling sunlight warming our skin and the grass tickling our toes while we drank “mocktails” together.

Yes, there were moments of sadness discussing plans and preparations, worries, and trials of the disease. But our time together was also spent finding peace by defining meaningfulness and the joys in her life.

I am grateful for all that I learned from her over the past few months and to have spent time with her the day before she died.

As she wished, please raise a glass to celebrate a wonderful life and person who will be dearly missed.

Cheers to you, Luella!

Regardless of how long or short you grieve; or how much or little you cry; who you share your grief with; or the cause of your grief (hint: grief isn’t only caused by death)… Your grief is personal. Your grief is normal. Your grief is valid.

Grief is a human experience and as humans we are all unique. Respect the way you grieve and respect the way others grieve. As family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances, it helps to acknowledge grief and let go of judgement.

What kind of griever are you? What has helped you through your grief? What has hurt?

A little goes a long way! Help support the North Okanagan Hospice Society, an important part of our community. Did you know they serve not only those at the end of life in their residence, but also caregivers and those who is grieving or bereaved. They provide public education and deliver services out in the community.

We’re hosting our 13th Annual Butcher Boys Hospice Fundraiser for our friends at NOHS - North Okanagan Hospice Society, & after our first week, we have raised $678.10 together!

How can you help?
1) Ask your cashier to “Add $5 for Hospice” and you will get an entry for 1 of 10 Meat Packs!*
2) Share to your Facebook!
3) Tag your friends & family in the comments to help spread the word!
4) Have some change weighing down your wallet? We’ll take your change! We have jars located at the end of each till. 💙

Thank you all! 💙 We do this in honour of our who Hospice have taken such great care of, Judy Mallet & Chris Huculak.💙💙💙💙💙💙

*Meat Packs are valued at $200, or a gift card in lieu of.

An important conversation that everyone can be a part of whether you are a caregiver, griever, part of an interdisciplinary care team, or a policy maker, funder, or senior stakeholder. Register at www.gbmhsummit.com.

Have you reserved your seat at the Summit? October 2, 4 and 6. Be a part of the collaboration. Join other caregivers, patients, interdisciplinary teams, policy makers, funders and other stakeholders to share ideas and gain insights into grief and bereavement in light of COVID-19. Summit attendees will collaboratively analyze current gaps to better support the future mental health of British Columbians and Canadians.

Register Today: www.GBMHSummit.com

I’m often asked why I chose this area of work. I thought sharing my personal story would be a good place to start.

In my early 20s, my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer that had metastasized throughout her body, upending my life as I knew it. In five short weeks, the cancer won. A few years later, my dad was diagnosed with a rare form of Dementia. His mental and physical health declined until his death 10 years after my mom’s. A slower process, but no less painful.

Although my family and I encountered many wonderful health care workers, there was so much more that could have helped us through those very challenging times. Guidance and practical support to carry some of the burdens of caregiving. A compassionate companion and listening ear to help us process and understand our complex emotions and help reduce some of our fears and anxieties.

I hope this helps you understand the source of my passion and why I wish to support others through their own experiences and as their unique stories unfold. It’s a great honour to be able to impart some peace of mind and to gift families with quality time.

I look forward to connecting with you through this community!

endpath care updated their phone number.

endpath care updated their business hours.

We aren’t here to replace your physicians or other care providers. We are here to complement and provide consistent, non-medical support focussed on your needs and wishes. Whether you have a serious illness or you are caring for someone who does, we can help share some of the burdens, listen, and support.