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What is palliative care ? Palliative care is a type of health care for patients and families facing life-threatening illness. Palliative care helps patients to achieve the best possible quality of life right up until the end of life. Palliative... read more...

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 illness may want to protect children from feeling the hurt that comes... read more...

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 will be. It threatens your control... read more...

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 be unique. But, if you... read more...

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, such as anniversaries, birthdays,... read more...

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 the passage of time. Your... read more...

If a life-threatening 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 may begin to evaluate your life... read more...

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 have within you that will help you. read more...

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 your daily activities. A... read more...

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 campground, cottage or other... read more...

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 been. Rituals are one way to mark... read more...

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, friends, and neighbours; and perhaps... read more...

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 of the concern. For example, someone... read more...

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 what is going on around them. read more...

What is constipation ? Constipation is a condition where stool is slow to move through the large intestine and bowel movements occur less frequently than they normally do. The slower the movement, the more fluid is absorbed out of the bowel... read more...

What is dehydration ? Dehydration is a condition that results from the excessive loss of water from the body. Diarrhea and vomiting are two of the most common causes of dehydration. Some medications can also reduce body water by increasing urine... read more...

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 on their own. Depression is... read more...

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 many things in a day, we can become... read more...

What is anorexia (lack of appetite)? Lack of appetite is the feeling that you are not hungry. Most people experience a lack of appetite from time to time. For example, people recovering from the flu often do not feel like eating until they begin... read more...

What is nausea and vomiting? Nausea is a sick or uncomfortable feeling in the stomach which is often described as an urge to vomit. Some people also describe nausea as an uncomfortable feeling at the back of the throat. Vomiting is a strong... read more...

What is pain ? Pain is the unpleasant experience you have when your body is hurt. Many different problems can cause pain, such as injuries, arthritis, or more serious diseases such as cancer. Everyone experiences pain differently. It is common... read more...

What is shortness of breath? The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea . It is defined as an uncomfortable awareness of breathing. People who are experiencing shortness of breath feel that they can’t get enough air. Breathing may be... read more...

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 to do more,... read more...

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 to take them, why you are using them, potential side effects... read more...

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 increase interest... read more...

Many people with advanced illness will experience an uncomfortably dry mouth. A regular mouth care routine should be followed three to four times a day and more often if the person requires. Following a routine will help keep the person more... read more...

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 a basin, or... read more...

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 such as... read more...

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 is helpful. read more...

Someone who cannot get out of bed should be helped to change position every two hours. If a person is lying in the same position for more than a couple of hours, pressure from the skin pushing into the bed may lead to skin breakdown and the... read more...

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. Here are some... read more...

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 talking about... read more...

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 making is magnified when life-threatening... 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...

Health care directives Health care directives are documents that outline treatment decisions that patients have asked to be followed if they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves. These documents are may also be called... read more...

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 death and... read more...

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 need to buy from... read more...

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 a disability... read more...

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 member. Caregivers... read more...

Physical changes in dying Although no two people experience illness in the same way, some generalizations can be made about how an illness begins to weaken the body when a person is nearing death.  Over time, most health conditions affect vital... read more...

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 – for... read more...