Thinking and talking about medical decisions near the end of life can be difficult, but having the right information can make it easier. One important document in BC is the No CPR form—a medical order that tells health care providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops. What is the No CPR Form? The No CPR form…
This was extracted from a video by Sarah Kerr, founder of the Centre for Sacred Deathcare. Talking about death can be difficult—especially if you’re in good health and not expecting it anytime soon. But the truth is, death can come for any of us at any time, and it’s still important to have that conversation, even when it feels far…
Most of us don’t expect to lose the ability to handle our own affairs — but illness, accidents, or the natural effects of aging can change that in an instant. A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal tool that lets you appoint someone to make financial and legal decisions for you if you can’t do it yourself. It’s an…
Most of us don’t like thinking about death, but it’s part of life—and when someone dies without a will, it can leave behind more than just grief. It often creates confusion, legal complications, and unintended consequences for the people left behind. When there’s no will, it’s called intestacy. In this situation, the law decides how your money, property, and belongings are…
Tending to a Body at Home In British Columbia, it is entirely legal for families and friends to care for a body at home after death. You may sit with the body, wash and dress it, build a casket, make arrangements for burial or cremation, and transport the body to the cemetery or crematorium. There is no legal requirement…
Julie McFadden, BSN, RN, a hospice/palliative care nurse with more than fifteen years of experience, writes: I am asked all the time why in the world I would do something as difficult as working for hospice. People often ask, “Isn’t it so depressing?” It’s sad sometimes, yes. There’s really no way around that. But I don’t find my job to…
From an article by Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, SC, USA, citing Dr. Atul Gawande’s book Being Mortal, summarized by Margaret Verschuur. Facing the end of life is never easy, but asking the right questions can bring clarity, comfort, and a sense of control during one of life’s most uncertain chapters. A growing movement in healthcare is shifting the focus…
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are vivid, often life-changing events reported by people who have come close to dying—whether through illness, accident, or trauma. These experiences often include perceptions beyond ordinary awareness: floating above the body, passing through a tunnel, encountering a bright light, or feeling a profound sense of peace. While no two accounts are exactly alike, researchers have found striking…
When someone dies suddenly, especially here on Cortes, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Unless there’s a Notification of Expected Death in the Home or No CPR form already in place, all deaths are treated as unexpected, and the first step is to call 911. This connects you with BC Emergency Health Services, who coordinate the response…
At our Leading the Way Together and AGM event on March 27th, Emily Bootle from DeathCareBC.ca was our guest speaker. Her talk will be shared on CKTZ Radio; stay tuned for details. What follows is an excerpt from a blog post by Emily: This is my ninth year in the deathcare industry, after starting out as a fresh-faced 25-year-old in 2016. In…