07/09/2025
By: Dawn Elston – Life and Death MattersFeatured Photo: Drs Leah Norgrove, Ambrose Marsh, Fraser Black, and Kath Murray and Coby Tschanz This year’s European Association of Palliative Care 4th International Research Seminar was held at the University of Victoria! The seminar focused on “Innovating Care: Research and Action for Public Health and Palliative Care”.
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06/25/2025
By Elizabeth Causton, MSW - I found this to be a critically important and timely discussion about one of a growing number of training programs designed to teach care aides how to stop using babytalk and address older people as adults
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06/16/2025
Palliative care is an essential component of healthcare, designed to enhance quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses. Rather than solely focusing on end-of-life care, palliative support is about comfort, dignity, and holistic well-being, ensuring people with life-limiting illnesses and their families receive compassionate and person-centred care at every stage of illness. Despite
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05/19/2025
Introduction: The Power of Presence With deep compassion, quiet strength, and an open heart, Courtney Murrell walks alongside individuals and families during some of life’s most tender moments. As a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and passionate advocate for whole person-centred care, Courtney is committed to making the journey from hospice admission to imminent death as
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05/02/2025
In recognition of National Hospice Palliative Care Week (May 4–10)1, Life and Death Matters celebrates the extraordinary work of Personal Support Workers (PSW’s), nurses, and healthcare teams who deliver compassionate hospice, palliative and end-of-life care and integrate a palliative care approach in all care settings. This week offers an opportunity to honour their contributions and
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04/24/2025
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is essential to delivering patient-centred care. It ensures that healthcare decisions reflect the personal values, goals, and preferences of people with serious illnesses, especially if they become unable to speak for themselves. While these conversations can be emotionally and ethically complex, starting them early significantly improves the quality of end-of-life care,
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03/18/2025
Introduction: The Role of Educators in Palliative Care The need for a palliative approach in long-term care (LTC) settings continues to grow due to several key factors: However, healthcare providers often face challenges in delivering effective palliative care, such as: Life and Death Matters resources offer practical tools to build confidence and competence among healthcare
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02/18/2025
The demand for healthcare professionals skilled in palliative care is growing rapidly. As Canadians live longer, many require extended care due to chronic illnesses such as cancer and dementia. At the same time, there is a growing preference for receiving care at home or within the community, yet fewer family members are available to provide
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02/13/2025
The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) has emerged as an invaluable instrument in palliative care settings, offering healthcare providers a standardized approach to assessing and monitoring patients’ functional status. Originally developed by the Victoria Hospice Society, this tool has transformed how we approach patient care planning, team communication, and resource allocation. At its core, PPS measures
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02/12/2025
Providing excellent care is about seeing individuals as persons, not just patients. This approach, championed by Kath Murray, Founder of Life and Death Matters, emphasizes person-centered care and is the foundation upon which palliative care is based. Nurses play a crucial role in delivering compassionate care, and palliative care training programs enhance their ability to
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