Life and Death Matters

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Life and Death Matters

Healthcare education and resources for educators, caregivers and nurses. Supporting excellence in en

Developers of engaging, interactive, creative hospice, palliative and end-of-life care educational resources for practical nurses and personal support workers/nursing assistants. We have a particular interest in assisting practical nurses, health care workers and family caregivers and have assembled a family of educational resources for these students:

"Essentials in Hospice and Palliative Care: A Practical Resource for Every Nurse" is tailored specifically to practical nurses learning to provide care for the dying. In Canada, we have a text "Integrating a Palliative Approach: Essentials for Personal Support Workers"
For nursing assistants and their counterparts in the USA, we have "Integrating a Palliative Approach: Essentials for Nursing Assistants"

We strive to make learning interesting and teaching easier. Which is why we developed companion workbooks, free podcasts and free videos for students, and a free Instructor's Guide to help integrate this content into core curriculum. And of course, we will come to you with face to face presentations and workshops... let's talk.

10/21/2025

⏳Just 1 week to go to our FREE webinar⏳
This session is more than a learning opportunity - it’s a chance to explore the latest thinking in pediatric palliative care, including Ontario’s newly released model of care: “Palliative Pediatric Care in All Settings.” Developed by Ontario Health, this framework highlights the importance of coordinated, inclusive, and family-centred care across hospitals, homes, and communities - and Maria will be unpacking key insights from this model during the webinar.

🎓 What you’ll gain:
- A clear understanding of pediatric hospice palliative care
- Practical strategies for PSWs, HCAs, and interdisciplinary teams
- Insights into cultural humility, emotional safety, and community-centred care
- Guidance on caring for yourself while supporting others
- A look at how Ontario’s new model can shape your practice

💬 Whether you're a nurse, educator, PSW, or advocate - this session is for you.
👨‍👩‍👦 Every Child, Every Family, Every Community: Inclusive Approaches to Pediatric Hospice Palliative Care
📅 October 28, 2025 | 4:00 PM EST
📢 Presented by Maria Panzera Rugg, RN, BScN, MN, ACNP (Cert), CHPCN(C), CHE
Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Educator, Life and Death Matters
👉 Reserve your spot today: https://f.mtr.cool/uwhukiydla

10/20/2025

📆 Our team is excited to be heading to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) Conference this week in Nanaimo, British Columbia!

Running from Thursday, October 23 to Saturday, October 25, this is Canada’s premier event for hospice and palliative care professionals. It's a rich opportunity to learn, share, and connect with colleagues from across the country.

There are also optional pre-conference symposiums, and we're especially pleased to see one on advancing collaborative pediatric palliative care which aligns beautifully with our October theme. This symposium will explore current challenges, emerging models, and collaborative strategies to support children and families facing life-limiting illness - across all care settings.

👋If you're attending the conference, come and say hello! We're at Booth 3.

Learn more about the CHPCA Conference 2025: https://f.mtr.cool/jbwedrwylu

10/20/2025

Last week, the Hearts and Hands Conference celebrated not only Health Care Assistants - but the incredible people who planted the seed for this beloved tradition 🌱💙

Among those honoured were members of the original planning committee: Kath Murray, Andrew Trinder, Twyla Johnson, and Stasia Hartley. Back in 2012, they came together with a shared vision: to celebrate the heart-led, hands-on work of Health Care Assistants.

It all began when Kath Murray visited Kathy Ajas where she worked at Ross Place Seniors Community in Victoria. She turned to Kathy Ajas and said, “This would be a great place to celebrate healthcare assistants.” Kathy replied, “Let’s do it.” And they did.

That first event “Celebrating the Hearts and Hands of Health Care Workers”, later fine-tuned to Health Care Assistants, was a cozy afternoon filled with speakers, massage tables, and nearly more door prizes than attendees. “The HCAs loved it,” Kath recalls. “And they felt the love!”

Since then, the celebration has grown into a full-day conference sponsored by SafeCare BC, with a mission to now Celebrate, Educate, and Inspire. It’s held annually across British Columbia, with thousands of HCAs attending over the years.

Kath said, “We played with several ideas. Hearts and Hands was chosen, because Health Care Assistants provide essential work with their hands, and they do it with such great heart!”

To every Health Care Assistant who shows up with heart and hands - this celebration is for you.

The photos:
First 3 photos, left to right - Andrew Trinder, Kath Murray, Twyla Johnson, Stasia Hartley.
Final photo - Ken Donohue, Kajal Hajirakar, Stasia Hartley, Twyla Johnson, Andrew Trinder, You, and Saleema Dhalla.

10/15/2025

👩‍⚕️ PSWs and frontline healthcare professionals are a key part of the team that make each child's and family's life the best it can be.

They do more than care...

🛏️ They help children feel safe in unfamiliar settings.
👂 They listen deeply, building trust with families.
👀 They notice subtle changes and speak up.
💊 They calmly manage pain, anxiety, and seizures.
🎈 They create space for play, laughter, and normalcy.
🧒👧 They support siblings, guide tough decisions, and help families feel less alone.
🏡 They bring care home, and dignity to every moment.

This is care at its most human. This is what it means to walk alongside a child, a family, a community.

10/14/2025

🌟 Just 2 Weeks to Go! 🌟

We're counting down to our FREE webinar:
Every Child, Every Family, Every Community: Inclusive Approaches to Pediatric Hospice Palliative Care

📅 October 28, 2025 | 4:00 PM EST
👩‍⚕️ Presented by Maria Panzera Rugg, RN, BScN, MN, ACNP (Cert), CHPCN(C), CHE
Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Educator, Life and Death Matters

Maria brings over 30 years of experience and heartfelt dedication to this session - designed to equip care providers with the tools, language, and confidence to support children and families facing life-limiting illness.

🎓 What you’ll gain:
- Clear understanding of pediatric hospice palliative care
- Practical strategies for PSWs, HCAs, and interdisciplinary teams
- Insights into cultural humility, emotional safety, and community-centred care
- Space to care for yourself while caring for others.

💬 Whether you're a nurse, educator, PSW, or advocate - this session is for you. It’s a chance to reflect, connect, and grow.

👉 Reserve your spot today: https://f.mtr.cool/jaierppkkq

10/13/2025

🫶 Healthcare Assistants - don’t miss the 10th anniversary of Heart and Hands, BC’s premier conference just for you!

We’re excited to share that Life and Death Matters Founder, Kath Murray, will be attending the Nanaimo Heart and Hands Conference on October 15, where she’ll lead a heartfelt breakout session:
“Respect the Individual and Individualize the Care”

As Healthcare Assistants, you strive to address needs in the moment – sometimes with little time and few resources. In this short session, Kath will share a few stories about healthcare assistants who exemplify this idea of person centred care. Bring your stories with you, and celebrate your hearts and hands.

This year, Heart and Hands is celebrating in a big way with three unforgettable gatherings:
📍 October 15 – Nanaimo
📍 October 22 – Langley
📍 October 24 – Kelowna

With a mission to CELEBRATE, EDUCATE, and INSPIRE, this isn’t just a conference - it’s an experience. One that attendees and organizations talk about long after the final session ends.

🔗 Don't miss this opportunity. Learn more and register: https://f.mtr.cool/cgsspqbljy

10/11/2025

🌍 Today is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day - a global moment to honour the compassionate care that supports people through serious illness, dying, and grief.

At Life and Death Matters, we believe that education empowers care. To show our support, we’re offering free digital Spanish-language nursing textbooks to the first 20 people who request them.

Let’s continue building a world where quality palliative care is accessible, inclusive, and deeply human.

📚 To request your free copy, comment WHPCD on this post or complete the contact form at the bottom of this page: https://f.mtr.cool/bwtcdnvomi

10/10/2025

🧠💚 World Mental Health Day 2025

Mental health is a universal human right and that includes those who care for others.

At Life and Death Matters, we honour the emotional strength and vulnerability of PSWs, nurses, and educators. Whether you're providing hands-on care, supporting families through grief, or preparing the next generation of carers, you hold space for others in powerful ways. You witness pain, offer comfort, and carry stories that shape how care is given and received. Your mental well-being deserves protection, respect, and meaningful support because caring for others begins with caring for yourself.

Today, we stand with you in advocating for care environments, whether in homes, hospices, classrooms, or clinics, that truly prioritise mental health as a fundamental right for all who give and receive care. Let’s build a culture where self-care isn’t optional, and where asking for help is seen as strength.

🫶 Take a moment to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with what sustains you. You matter.

10/09/2025

🧡 Today is National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day - a day to raise awareness about the importance of pediatric hospice palliative care and how it improves the quality of living and dying for children with serious illnesses and their families.

For PSWs, nurses, and educators, this is a moment to reflect on the power of presence, play, and culturally safe care - especially in the home, where many children wish to be.

Maria’s new blog, Every Child, Every Family, Every Community, explores inclusive approaches to pediatric palliative care and the vital role caregivers play in supporting children, families, and communities.

📖 Read the blog: https://f.mtr.cool/xnuzfehgoe

10/08/2025

🎈 October Theme: Pediatric Palliative Care

This month we’re shining a light on pediatric palliative care - beginning with what it truly means and how it differs from adult palliative care.

The World Health Organization defines palliative care for children as “the active total care of the child’s body, mind and spirit, and also involves giving support to the family. It begins when illness is diagnosed and continues regardless of whether or not a child receives treatment directed at the disease. Health providers must evaluate and alleviate a child’s physical, psychological, and social distress.”

Pediatric palliative care is not simply a smaller version of adult care. Key differences include:
👶 Developmental needs - children’s understanding of illness, communication styles, and emotional development vary widely by age and stage.
⏳ Duration of care - pediatric palliative care often spans months or years, evolving as the child grows.
👨‍👩‍👧 Family dynamics - parents and caregivers are central, not just decision-makers, but emotionally impacted partners in care.
💊 Tailored symptom management - pain and symptom relief must be adapted to developing bodies and changing needs.
🎨 Holistic planning - care includes opportunities for play, learning, and social connection, not just medical support.
🌈 Core purpose - not only to relieve suffering, but to nurture life, however long or short, with dignity, joy, and meaning.

Follow along this month as we explore more about the journeys that children with life-limiting illnesses, their families, and their caregivers take together.

10/07/2025

🌟 We’re beaming with pride to have Maria Panzera Rugg join our team at Life and Death Matters!

So, we've written a blog to learn about Maria's vocation in palliative care. She talks about her career path, reflects on lessons learned across pediatric and adult care, and shares what she hopes to achieve in her new role as Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Educator.

PSWs, nurses, and educators will find inspiration in Maria’s journey and her insights into the foundations of quality palliative care - being present, showing compassion, and bearing witness. She reminds us to centre patients and families, work closely with the whole care team, and always consider equity and cultural safety in every interaction.

📖 Read her story: https://f.mtr.cool/vyqjsffxbu

10/01/2025

🌟 Upcoming FREE Webinar Alert! 🌟

Every Child, Every Family, Every Community: Inclusive Approaches to Pediatric Hospice Palliative Care

📅 October 28, 2025 | 4:00 PM EST
👩‍⚕️ Presented by Maria Panzera Rugg, RN, BScN, MN, ACNP (Cert), CHPCN(C), CHE Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Educator, Life and Death Matters

With over 30 years of nationally recognized experience in pediatric and adult palliative care, Maria brings deep clinical insight and a passion for teaching to this powerful session.

Through case-based learning, you’ll gain practical skills and insights to support children with life-limiting illness, their families, and their communities with dignity, compassion, and safety.

🎓 Learning Highlights:
🌿 Understand what pediatric hospice palliative care is (and isn’t)
💬 Examine the vital role of PSWs and HCAs in pediatric hospice palliative care
🤝 Learn strategies to care for children, families, community - and yourself
✨ Explore cultural humility and safety in care.

👉 Register now to save your spot: https://f.mtr.cool/vqsfybqdci

Address

2958 Lamont Road
Saanichton, BC
V8M1W5

Telephone

+12506526781

Website

https://beacons.ai/lifeanddeathmatters

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