Life and Death Matters

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.

đź’ś A tribute to the care teams who make dementia care possible Dementia care is relational work. It asks for presence, r...
09/16/2026

đź’ś A tribute to the care teams who make dementia care possible

Dementia care is relational work. It asks for presence, relationality, continuity and the kind of attention that PSWs, nurses, educators and frontline staff are trained for and ready to deliver.

This month, as we explore Memory, Access and Dignity, we honour the people who show up day after day, holding stories, easing fear, supporting decision making and creating moments of comfort across the dementia journey. Your work is skilled, emotional and profoundly human.

Thank you for the dignity you protect, the connections you nurture and the compassion you carry into every shift. We see you. We appreciate you. And we are learning with you.

✨ New Webinar Coming Up Join us on September 28, 3–4 pm EST / 12–1 pm PST for our next session, “Palliative Care Everyw...
09/15/2026

✨ New Webinar Coming Up

Join us on September 28, 3–4 pm EST / 12–1 pm PST for our next session, “Palliative Care Everywhere: Dementia Care - Access and the Gaps We Must Close.”

This conversation will explore:
• Why dementia is a palliative diagnosis
• How early integration improves comfort and quality of life
• Structural, cultural and geographic barriers to equitable access
• Evidence‑informed strategies PSWs can use across the dementia trajectory

Featuring Dr. Daphna Grossman 🎙️

Book your spot today. Link in comments

It's Not Too Late to Join!Today Life and Death Matter's Maria Panzera Rugg is hosting our webinar on the new 3rd Edition...
09/09/2026

It's Not Too Late to Join!

Today Life and Death Matter's Maria Panzera Rugg is hosting our webinar on the new 3rd Edition of Integrating a Palliative Approach for PSWs.

Join us to find out what’s new, explore updated tools for practice, and bring your questions for our live conversation.

Register now: link in comments

Only one day to go until our webinar on the new 3rd Edition of Integrating a Palliative Approach for PSWs.We are excited...
09/08/2026

Only one day to go until our webinar on the new 3rd Edition of Integrating a Palliative Approach for PSWs.

We are excited to share the fresh updates, new topics, and advancing new technology of our soon to be released newest edition of our PSW textbook designed to support PSWs in providing confident and compassionate care.

Save your spot: link in comments

Access Gaps: Dementia and the Uneven Path to Palliative CareAcross Canada, people living with dementia and those who hel...
09/07/2026

Access Gaps: Dementia and the Uneven Path to Palliative Care

Across Canada, people living with dementia and those who help care for them do not access palliative care equally. Geography, culture, and systemic barriers shape who receives timely support and who is left waiting.

In rural and remote communities, limited specialist services mean persons and their families often navigate dementia changes without the guidance and support they need or want. Newcomer communities may face language barriers or unfamiliar care systems that make early palliative support harder to reach. Indigenous communities continue to experience gaps created by colonial structures, lack of culturally safer care, and distance from services.

When dementia affects memory, communication, and decision‑making, these access gaps become even more pronounced. Equity in palliative care begins with recognising where support is missing or limited and ensuring that every person, in every community, can receive care that honours dignity, identity, and connection and care that reflects where, when and by whom they want to be cared for.

Memory, Access & Dignity: Dementia and Equitable Palliative CareSeptember begins our focus on Access and Equity Across C...
09/04/2026

Memory, Access & Dignity: Dementia and Equitable Palliative Care

September begins our focus on Access and Equity Across Canada, and this month we explore that priority through one essential question: Who is missing care when dementia and cognitive change shape access to palliative support?

Dementia affects how people understand information, make decisions, and communicate their needs. These changes can create real barriers to timely palliative care, especially for Indigenous communities, rural and remote regions, and newcomers who already face structural inequities.

Throughout September, we will look at the intersection of memory, access and dignity. We will share myth‑busters, highlight access gaps, amplify vulnerable voices, honour care teams, and open conversations about what needs to change so people living with dementia can receive palliative care earlier and more equitably.

Follow along as we work toward palliative care everywhere.

What’s new in the 3rd Edition of Integrating a Palliative Approach for PSWs? Exciting updates are coming to our PSW lea...
09/03/2026

What’s new in the 3rd Edition of Integrating a Palliative Approach for PSWs?

Exciting updates are coming to our PSW learning resources, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Join us for a free webinar exploring new topics, instructor resource updates and advancing new technology in our new 3rd edition textbook designed to support PSWs in providing compassionate, person‑centred care.

We will walk through the changes, highlight what’s been added, and share how the new edition can strengthen confidence in everyday practice.

Register here: link in comments

Myth‑Buster: Would someone with a diagnosis of Dementia benefit from a palliative approach to care?Yes, absolutely. Deme...
09/02/2026

Myth‑Buster: Would someone with a diagnosis of Dementia benefit from a palliative approach to care?

Yes, absolutely. Dementia is a progressive, life‑limiting condition, and people living with dementia can benefit from a palliative approach at every stage, not only near the end of life.

A palliative approach in dementia focuses on comfort, communication, safety, and dignity. It helps individuals and families navigate changes in memory and decision‑making, plan ahead, and receive support earlier. This approach ensures care remains person‑centred, responsive, and grounded in what matters most to each individual.

By bringing palliative principles into dementia care sooner, we can reduce distress, strengthen relationships, and improve access for communities who often face barriers to timely support.

This month, as we honour Women’s Equality Day, we’re recognising the women who carry so much of Canada’s hands‑on care, ...
08/27/2026

This month, as we honour Women’s Equality Day, we’re recognising the women who carry so much of Canada’s hands‑on care, including family caregivers, nurses, and PSWs who support people through illness, dying, and grief every day.

To support that work, Life & Death Matters offers a free introductory course: Integrating a Palliative Approach to Care. It’s a gentle, accessible starting point for anyone supporting people with serious or life-limiting illnesses who want to deepen their understanding of the palliative approach, strengthen communication, and feel more prepared in the moments that matter.

The course emphasizes dignity, whole-person care, and support for individuals and their chosen families. A short quiz follows the training, and participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate of completion.

Explore the free introductory course. Link in comments

This month, we’ve been reflecting on Women’s Equality Day and what it asks of us in care. Our latest blog looks at the r...
08/26/2026

This month, we’ve been reflecting on Women’s Equality Day and what it asks of us in care. Our latest blog looks at the real weight of care work in Canada and who is carrying it.

PSWs, HCAs and CCA's especially immigrant and racialized women, hold some of the closest and most demanding responsibilities in home care, long‑term care, and community care. Our blog explores why recognition matters, but why redistributing the load matters even more.

If you work in care, teach care, or care about care, this piece is for you.

Read the blog: Link in comments

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