Difference between revisions of "Preparing for the Death of a Loved One"

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The anticipated death of a loved one is a difficult time. Here are some practical steps to help prepare everyone for what lies ahead.

Some people approaching the natural end of their lives or suffering from a life-limiting illness decide to not have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other emergency medical procedures provided if their heart or lungs stop. This decision can be recorded in a “No CPR Form”. This form is a medical order that says the person has had a conversation with a healthcare professional about CPR. It tells people such as first responders, paramedics and care providers not to start CPR on behalf of the person whether they are at home, in the community or in a care facility.  

| text = With a signed No CPR Form, you can get a free MedicAlert® bracelet with “No CPR” engraved on it. To obtain a free bracelet, call 1-800-668-1507 or visit [https://www.medicalert.ca/nocpr/ www.medicalert.ca/nocpr.]}}

Making arrangements in advance with a funeral home helps loved ones deal with the body and arrange the funeral after death.

Once a funeral home is selected, a “Notification of Expected Home Death” form can be completed. This form authorizes the funeral home to remove the body from the home without “pronouncement of death” by a healthcare professional. For more details, see the section “Pronouncement of death”. The notification form can be found at [http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/end-of-life-care/expected-planned-home-deaths www.gov.bc.ca/expectedhomedeath]. It is completed by the doctor of the person approaching end of life and sent to the funeral home before the death.

Organ donations can help save the lives of others. A person approaching end of life, if they haven’t already done so, can register as a donor with the BC Organ Donor Registry administered by BC Transplant. You can choose what organs and tissues to offer for donation. Or you can choose to donate any organs that are needed. You can also choose to donate for transplant, for research, or for educational purposes.

You don’t have to be perfectly healthy to donate an organ. It’s the health of a certain organ that matters. Talk with your doctor or contact BC Transplant at [http://www.transplant.bc.ca/ www.transplant.bc.ca] if you have questions.

If the person approaching end of life makes a short written plan, it helps family, friends and others respect their wishes and know what to do at the time of death.