FREE Death Café on Wednesday June 28th at McMaster University

I am honoured to facilitate this FREE Death Café on Wednesday June 28th (6-8pm) at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre, McMaster University on behalf of The 100% Certainty Project. Death: Something to Talk About.

We will highlight the articles, “You May Want to Marry My Husband” (written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, 2017) and “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me” (written by Jason B. Rosenthal, 2018), alongside the 2018 TED Talk “The journey through loss and Grief” and 2020 book, “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me” by Jason, (named one of time’s best new books). 

This event is featuring “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me”, an extraordinary 2023 book selection for The 100% Certainty Project. Death: Something to Talk About. The book “is an inspiring memoir of life, love, loss, and new beginnings by the widower of bestselling children’s author and filmmaker Amy Krouse Rosenthal, whose last of act of love before her death was setting the stage for her husband’s life without her in a column in the New York Times.” Source: https://www.jasonbrosenthal.com/books 

Registration is required for this FREE Death Café on Wednesday June 28th (6-8pm) via Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/death-cafe-tickets-657227203257?utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_term=Death+Cafe&aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail 

Please note: Death Café is an international movement where people, often strangers, gather to eat, drink tea and discuss death. The objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’.

At Death Café, you can expect a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group. Please note that Death Café is NOT a grief support group, nor is this a grief counselling session. 

Death Café is a respectful, public event where people of all communities and belief systems are welcome to have discussions about death. Interesting conversation is guaranteed! For more information, please visit Death Café. https://deathcafe.com/

It is National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada

The first full week of May marks National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada. Palliative care is person-centered care. That means, in part, that wherever there is a person with a life-limiting illness, palliative care can be provided. If someone is facing significant health-related suffering because of a life-limiting illness, palliative care can help regardless of the setting of care, regardless of a person’s illness or prognosis, regardless of their postal code. Palliative care is an approach that aims to alleviate the suffering of people facing a life-limiting illness. It can be provided in any setting – from hospice, to long-term care, to hospital, to home.

While access to palliative care has improved over recent years, the latest data shows that only 58% of Canadians who died in 2021-2022 received palliative care, usually in a hospital. The “Palliative Care Everywhere” campaign highlights that there are no limits on where a palliative approach to care can be provided and reminds us that wherever people face life-limiting illnesses, end-of-life, and grief, there must also be a place for palliative care.

"This week, we celebrate the indispensable and compassionate care provided by health care workers, volunteers, unpaid caregivers and many others across Canada. The impact of palliative care on a person’s quality of life and on their family is profoundly meaningful, and every person with a life-limiting illness deserves to receive this level of care," said Laurel Gillespie, CEO of CHPCA. “Sadly, less than 60% of Canadians who died last year received care from the discipline that specializes, in part, in caring for the dying. It is time for everyone in Canada to come together to build a future where ‘Palliative Care Everywhere’ is true in every postal code.” Source: CHPCA

FREE National Community-Based Primary Palliative Care Community of Practice (CoP)

I am honoured to be co-presenting “Practical Tips: Lessons from the Front Line”, the final session in the National Community-Based Primary Palliative Care Community of Practice (CoP) series. This Continuing Professional Development is FREE for all health care professionals is part of The Palliative Care ECHO Project led by Pallium Canada.

This community of practice focuses on supporting primary care clinicians to integrate primary palliative care in their practices. It is geared towards interprofessional primary health care providers across Canada. Each session is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

This is the final session in the second series, which includes 11 sessions taking place on a bi-weekly basis. All webinars are recorded and available for playback. Topics include:

Pain: Beyond the Basics: November 9, 2022

Communication: Part 1: November 23, 2022

Communication: Part 2: December 7, 2022

Palliative Care and Substance Use Disorders: January 18, 2023

GI Symptoms in Palliative Care: February 1, 2023

Delirium: February 15, 2023

Spiritual Care and Rituals Around Death and Dying: March 1, 2023

Palliative Sedation: March 15, 2023

Grief and Bereavement: Beyond the Basics: April 12, 2023

Practical Tips: Lessons from the Front Line: April 26, 2023 from 1–2:00 p.m. ET
 
Interested in becoming a part of this FREE COP? Visit The Palliative Care ECHO Project

Planning for My Care: Proud, Prepared & Protected

April 16th is National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada

Planning for My Care part of Proud, Prepared & Protected is a FREE booklet focusing on care conversations 2SLGBTQ+ people and healthcare providers to start conversations about values, wishes and concerns to help identify who you would want to make decisions, your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) on your behalf should you not be able to make decisions for yourself. 

Access FREE via https://www.virtualhospice.ca/2SLGBTQ/media/igkp01nf/2slgbtq-planning-for-my-care.pdf 

Many who are 2SLGBTQ+ have experienced or witnessed discrimination and ignorance in a healthcare setting. You may have received inappropriate care or, even worse, been denied care. Some healthcare workers are not aware of the challenges the 2SLGBTQ+ communities face. 

This document, focusing on care conversations for Two-Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and all sexual and gender-diverse people, is intended to help you think about what is important to you, concerns you might have, and who you would want to make decisions for you if a time comes when you can’t make decisions for yourself. 

Consider giving a copy of this document to the important people in your life, and sharing this information with healthcare providers. Take it with you when you attend appointments, call 911, visit the emergency department, or access other healthcare services. If your province or territory has a process for documenting your wishes for care, ensure this information is included on those documents and kept in the same place.

Source: Canadian Virtual Hospice

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

For more information on advanced illness, advance care planning, palliative care, end-of-life care and grief, please visit: 

Canadian Virtual Hospice www.virtualhospice.ca 

Advance Care Planning Canada values a free, accessible and open shared knowledge amongst the community. The website provides you with all the necessary tools to inform yourself on the most recent advanced care planning updates and developments. For more information and FREE resources, visist: https://www.advancecareplanning.ca/

FREE Advance Care Planning (ACP) workbooks

April 16th is National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada

“If Not You, Who? Who would you trust to make your healthcare decisions? Planning for your future healthcare needs is important. So, we’re asking: Do you know what would happen if you couldn’t speak for yourself? Who would you trust to make those #healthcare decisions for you? 

You have the power to choose who that person is. They can be a family member, a friend, or anyone in your life that you trust to make the kinds of healthcare decisions you would want. 

• Think about who you would trust with making those important decisions for you. 

• Think about what matters most in your life and how that might help guide someone in making the kinds of healthcare decisions you would want.  

• The best time to think about this is now when you can speak for yourself. We have useful guides to help you along the way. 

Choosing a Substitute Decision-Maker (SDM)

Advance Care Planning policies can vary dependent on your province or territory. In order to ensure your end of life wishes are honoured it is crucial to have an understanding of your province or territory policies. This includes understanding what your #rights and #privileges are, as well as understanding the laws and regulations regarding end of life care, specific to your province or territory. While creating your advance care plan it is also important to make sure that you are using the correct documents for your province or territory. 

• Who do you trust most to make decisions for your health care that follow your wishes?

• Would that person be comfortable with making important decisions about your health quickly or in an emergency?

• Have you spoken to them about what matters most in your life? When someone knows what you value most in your life, they can make more informed decisions about your health care.

• What Matters Most? What does a good day look like for you?

• What situations do you find difficult?

• What gives you strength in difficult times?

• What spiritual, cultural or religious beliefs, practices, or ceremonies are important to you?

• What do you value more: the possibility of a longer life, or the possibility of a better quality of life? 

These questions can help guide you and your substitute decision-maker and assist them to prioritize what matters most to you when weighing care options.

April 16th is Advance Care Planning Day. So, ask yourself: If not you, who?” 

Source: Advance Care Planning Canada 

There are multiple FREE Advance Care Planning (ACP) workbooks, toolkits and guides specifically created to follow the provincial/territorial requirements for your advance care plan. Visit for FREE FREE Advance Care Planning (ACP) resources across Canada https://www.advancecareplanning.ca/acp-across-canada/

C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting Newsletter: Fall 2022

I am pleased to share my Fall 2022 Newsletter highlighting educational opportunities and my clinical work serving individuals, families, and healthcare providers facing complex illnesses, uncertainty and grief.

Medical Education: Honouring life, love, loss and legacy at McMaster University

Incredibly honoured to facilitate the Annual Dr. Barbara Tatham Memorial Lecture & thank her sisters Erica, Deanna & Laura for joining us to demystify grief, honour loss & explore healing while caring for others and ourselves. Honouring Dr. Tatham's life, legacy and brilliant contributions to Medical Education at McMaster University.

Honouring person and family-centred care is ESSENTIAL from time of diagnosis, throughout treatment, into remission, at end-of-life, and into bereavement.

A cancer diagnosis is traumatizing. Finding community, support and connection is essential in the face of trauma. Stories of others moving through trauma are always important in post-traumatic growth (Tedeschi & Calhoun). Strength is often correlated, almost paradoxically, following an increased sense of being vulnerable - of being human.

Today, please take a moment to connect with your breath, honour your strengths and make space for who and what matters most in your life. ❤️

Today is the Annual #TerryFoxRun. To support Dr. Tatham's life, legacy and indomitable spirit in the face of cancer, please donate to #TeamBarb https://run.terryfox.ca/team/teambarb

C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting Spring Newsletter

Loss in the Time of COVID: Exploring the Impact of Grief

Honoured to deliver Loss in the Time of COVID: Exploring the Impact of Grief as the Keynote address at Trillium Health Partners in support of National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada.

My sincere gratitude to everyone who joined our discussion via Zoom, for sharing time, reflections and energy - and for acknowledging the impact of trauma, loss and grief for healthcare providers as we continue to serve so many facing trauma, loss and grief during the pandemic.

Best Oral Paper Award at #HPCO2022!

Incredibly honoured as the Clinical Lead to receive the Best Oral Paper Award at #HPCO2022 Hospice Palliative Care Ontario Annual Provincial Conference with our incredible interprofessional team: Ann Vander Berg, Allyson Oliphant, and champion for our project - Dr. Andrea Folic for "Care Beyond Walls: Innovation, Implementation and Evaluation of a Medical Assistance in Dying-Specific Bereavement Support Group for Caregivers"

Supporting children and youth who have a family member with an advanced serious illness

Supporting children and youth who have a family member with an advanced serious illness via NACG The Dougy Center & KinderCare

At some point, we all encounter a child or teen who is living with the anxiety of a family member’s life-limiting illness. You can have the opportunity to be a support person, providing empathy as they face the serious illness, grief, loss and perhaps death, of a family member.

Some considerations include: Listen, Acknowledge, Understand, Provide Consistency, Help, Safety, Provide Resources

Source: https://childrengrieve.org/12-resource/309-resources-2

C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting - Winter 2022 Newsletter

I am honoured to share my winter 2022 newsletter with free resources for individuals and families of all ages facing a complex illness, following diagnosis through to bereavement.

I am also grateful to also share teaching experiences including: undergraduate and graduate Social Work Education; undergraduate interdisciplinary education; and Interprofessional Education for healthcare providers and volunteers exploring informed conversations, honouring person and family-centred care, demystifying grief, and advocating for high-quality palliative care.

C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting - Fall 2021 Newsletter

I am honoured to share my Fall 2021 newsletter including resources for individuals and families of all ages facing a complex illness, following diagnosis through to bereavement. I am also grateful to also share my teaching experiences including: undergraduate and graduate Social Work Education; undergraduate Medical Education; and Interprofessional Education for healthcare providers exploring informed conversations, honouring person and family-centred care, demystifying grief, and advocating for palliative care.

Myths about Palliative Care

It is so important to demystify the incredible scope and breadth of Palliative and end of life Care. For National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada (May 2nd- 8th), I am re-posting a great resource from CVH - an incredible source of evidence-informed Hospice Palliative Care resources for individuals, families, healthcare providers or volunteers serving anyone facing life-limiting illness, grief and bereavement. 

An infographic about 10 myths that are often encountered in Palliative Care (also available in French, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Catalan, Chinese, Cree, Hebrew, Inuinnaqtun, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Tagalog).

Source: Canadian Virtual Hospice

Demystifying Hospice Palliative Care is essential!

National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada is May 2nd-8th, 2021.

Proactive and equitable access to Hospice Palliative Care is not standard, with barriers (including a lack of education, funding and research) contributing to the myths that impact delivering high-quality person and family-centred collaborative care. Integrated support for loss, grief and bereavement is lacking.

Did you know....

-Between 62% and 89% of those who die could benefit from palliative care, including nearly everyone who does not die unexpectedly

- 51% of the children who died in 2012 only received Paediatric Palliative Care for the last 30 days of their lives

-62% of Canadians who received palliative care did so in an acute care hospital in their last month of life

-Few Canadians (15%) have early access to palliative care in the community

-80% of the time, palliative care was provided during admission was unplanned or through an emergency department  

-Canadians between the ages of 45 and 74 are more likely than younger adults and older seniors to receive palliative care

-There are ~88 residential hospices and the majority require a prognosis of <3 months to be admitted

Source: CHPCA Fact Sheet 2021 

For more information, please visit the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

April 16th is Advance Care Planning Day in Canada

April 16th is National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada, a day to promote conversations about your wishes and values for your future health and personal care in the event that you are unable to communicate for yourself. This year’s #ACPDay2021 is based on the theme "Advance Care Planning: An Essential Conversation for Everyone".

The ACP in Canada website - https://www.advancecareplanning.ca/acpday/ - features FREE downloadable resources, including posters and social media graphics for organizations and individuals across Canada to promote ACP.

Canadians have spoken, and although 80% of the population believes Advance Care Planning is important, less than 1 in 5 Canadians have an Advance Care Plan. Fortunately, the ACP website at www.advancecareplanning.ca is full of free information, tools, and conversation starters to help with starting the conversation. There are also links to provincial and territory-specific ACP resources across Canada.

How are you connecting with friends and family during these times? #ACPinCanada.

The 17th Annual Innovations in Palliative Care Virtual Conference

Join us for the (online) 17th Annual Innovations in Palliative Care Virtual Conference, a collaboration between the Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and Pallium Canada

C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting Newsletter Winter 2021

Honoured to share my Winter 2021 newsletter including resources for individuals and families of all ages facing a complex illness, from diagnosis through to bereavement. Grateful to also share undergraduate and graduate Social Work education, along with medical education and interprofessional education for healthcare providers demystifying palliative care.

In support of Movember, a free webinar demystifying Advance Care Planning for Men with Prostate Cancer

In support of Movember Canada & TrueNTH, am sharing a free webinar demystifying Advance Care Planning for Men with Prostate Cancer.

Facing prostate cancer is difficult enough. But advance care planning (ACP) can give your loved ones the confidence and peace of mind to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to communicate for yourself. This webinar will provide information about why ACP is important, and a step-by-step guide to advance care planning.

The purpose of this workshop is to:
- Provide an overview of ACP
- Foster understanding as to why ACP is important for anyone facing prostate cancer,
- Help men with prostate cancer, their partners and families learn the steps involved in the ACP process, and how to start these conversations,
- Explore some free ACP resources from Advance Care Planning Canada

The free webinar can be accessed via https://vimeo.com/189996475

C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting 2020 Newsletter