Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World
This section focuses on the later stages of life and after death.
You will find resources to help you understand what to expect, how to provide comfort, and how to support cultural, spiritual, and family practices. These tools also offer guidance for grief and remembering your loved one.
Looking for more support? Explore the Resource Library for the full collection of Walking Alongside tools and resources, or follow the Caregiver Pathway to guide your next steps.
Resources for this section
| Section | Title | Description | Resource Type | Details | Keywords & Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Grieving Strategies | Offers simple strategies for coping with grief and loss, including helpful tips on what to do and what to avoid following a loved one’s death. | Handout | https://carechannel.elizz.com/resources/grieving-strategies/ | grief, strategies, coping, wellbeing, mental health, mental wellness, honouring the caregiver, coping, after-death, loss, bereavement |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Checklist for Home Passing | A guided checklist to help individuals and families prepare for a home death, reflect on readiness, and identify next steps as needs and supports change. | Activity | # | home passing, checklist, end-of-life, planning, home death, dying at home, communication, wishes, reflection, expected death, care planning |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Last Weeks or Days of Life | A presentation describing signs that death is near, end-of-life protocols, what to do when death occurs, and ways to care for yourself during this time. | Slide Deck | # | end-of-life, dying, signs, last days, guidance, caregiving, expected death, caregiver education, provider education, home death, protocol, signs death is near, signs of dying |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Last Weeks or Days of Life | Speaker's Notes accompanying the Last Weeks or Days of Life presentation, that describes signs that death is near, end-of-life protocols, what to do when death occurs, and ways to care for yourself during this time. | Slide Deck | # | end-of-life, dying, signs, last days, guidance, caregiving, expected death, caregiver education, provider education, home death, protocol, signs death is near, signs of dying |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Food for Thought | Addresses appetite changes near end of life, offering reassurance and practical suggestions to support comfort and help caregivers navigate this challenging transition | Handout | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X307KhYShnbamo1t3K3iqB7QY8usQrCY/view?usp=share_link | nutrition, eating, loss of appetite, appetite loss, end-of-life, comfort care, eating changes, caregiver support, end-of-life, physical changes, physical wellness, emotional wellness |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | What to Expect | Culturally grounded explanations on what to expect during serious illness especially in the final days of life, with suggestions for supporting a loved one. | Pamphlet | https://livingmyculture.ca/media/3754/cvh-21061-what-to-expect-one-pagers-pr6.pdf | expectations, dying process, end-of-life, caregiving, final days, what to expect, comfort care, emotional wellness, end-of-life changes, end-of-life support, changes at end-of-life, when death is near, home death, dying at home, planning, signs |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Caring for Someone with a Serious Illness: What to Expect | Highlights care needs for someone with a serious illness, including comfort measures, understanding pain, and recognizing signs that death may be near. | Pamphlet | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X307KhYShnbamo1t3K3iqB7QY8usQrCY/view?usp=share_link | terminal illness, caregiving, what to expect, family, pain, comfort care, recognizing decline, signs of decline, home care, |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Protocols for End of Life | A guided reflection activity to help individuals and families discuss and document end-of-life wishes in ways that honour cultural, spiritual, and personal preferences.A guided reflection activity to help individuals and families discuss and document end-of-life wishes in ways that honour cultural, spiritual, and personal preferences. | Activity | https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1qy0S-8UMu38xSVBGGk3TJROGlS43KTd7 | protocols, ceremony, end-of-life, reflection, activity, wishes, dying at home, home death, cultural practices, planning, wishes |
| Supporting the Journey to the Spirit World | Honouring Our Loss and Grief | A video sharing Indigenous perspectives on honouring loved ones after death, including rituals, ceremonies, and community practices that support grieving and remembrance. | Video | https://livingmyculture.ca/culture/first-nations/indigenous-voices-honouring-our-loss-and-grief/ | end-of-life, grief, loss, honouring, ceremony, Indigenous voices, traditional ceremony, after death, legacy, bereavement, mental wellness, coping, legacy, grief group, coping, depression, Elder, traditional teachings, rituals, practices |
You can browse the resources within each section as needed, or search the Resource Library if you’re looking for something specific. Explore this site in the way that feels most helpful to you.