Supporting Conversations About Death and Dying With Individuals With Diverse Abilities

Supporting Conversations About Death and Dying With Individuals With Diverse Abilities
Home Sharing Support Society BC
Purpose: Build provider capacity to guide compassionate, culturally safe, and person centered conversations

Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to
• Describe the core elements of person centered conversations about death and dying
• Apply plain language and trauma informed communication techniques
• Integrate spiritual or cultural beliefs into support planning
• Identify BC specific grief and palliative care resources
• Utilize practical tools to support individuals through loss

Why This Training Matters
• Adults with diverse abilities experience grief and loss like anyone
• Many individuals rely on supporters to explain death in a clear and accessible way
• Providers often report uncertainty about how to approach the topic
• Culturally safe practices strengthen emotional safety and trust
• BC sector partners encourage consistent practice across teams

Core Principles
• Person centered
• Trauma informed
• Culturally safe
• Plain language
• Predictable
• Collaborative across the circle of support

Start With Discovery
• Ask what the individual already understands
• Explore what they have experienced before
• Identify preferred communication methods
• Confirm who they want included in the conversation
• Avoid assumptions about what the person can or cannot process

Use Clear and Direct Language
• Avoid figurative expressions
• Explain death in concrete terms
• Break information into small pieces
• Repeat key points as needed
• Check for understanding through open questions

Supporting Emotions
• Validate any emotional response
• Offer options for comfort such as routines, objects, or sensory supports
• Reinforce that feelings of sadness, confusion, or worry are normal
• Use predictable transitions to reduce anxiety

Visual and Practical Tools
• Social stories
• Picture schedules
• Objects or symbols that represent loss
• Visual timelines of events
• Short videos or worksheets in simple language

Integrating Spiritual or Cultural Beliefs
• Ask about specific beliefs, rituals, or customs
• Involve Elders, clergy, cultural knowledge keepers, or spiritual companions
• Honor rituals such as prayer, smudging, readings, or songs
• Confirm any preferences for gathering or ceremony
• Adapt rituals to accommodate sensory needs

Respecting Boundaries
• Some individuals prefer not to discuss death directly
• Use comfort focused language instead of explicit terms
• Maintain focus on safety, continuity, and routine
• Avoid forcing the topic if it becomes distressing

Roles in the Circle of Support
• Home sharing provider
• Family
• CLBC worker
• Community team
• Cultural or spiritual supports
• Mental health providers
• Each role must align messaging to reduce confusion

BC Focused Resources
• BC Centre for Palliative Care
Serious illness conversation tools, grief support, and advance care planning
https://bc-cpc.ca

• Provincial Health Services Authority Indigenous Health
Culturally safe care practices for Indigenous individuals

• First Nations Health Authority
Traditional wellness practices, supports for loss, and cultural safety resources
https://www.fnha.ca

• Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre
Plain language resources on representation agreements and supported decision making
https://www.nidus.ca

• Community Living British Columbia
Guidance on planning, decision making, and end of life considerations for adults with developmental disabilities
https://www.communitylivingbc.ca

• Family Support Institute of BC
Peer based learning and family supports related to grief and complex transitions
https://familysupportbc.com

• Inclusion BC
Resources grounded in the rights based approach to inclusive grieving and decision making
https://inclusionbc.org

• Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Supports for children, youth, and families including grief resources
https://www.canuckplace.org

• MyGrief.ca
Interactive grief learning modules
https://mygrief.ca

• KidsGrief.ca
Plain language grief modules for conversations with children and youth
https://kidsgrief.ca

Practical Tools Providers Can Use
• Social stories about death and loss
• Simple grief workbooks
• Circles of support scripts
• Visual schedules for rituals
• Sensory friendly adaptations for memorials
• Steps for preparing the individual before a funeral or ceremony

Case Example for Discussion
A person you support loses a grandparent
• What do they already know
• What supports or rituals matter
• What visual tools will help
• How will you coordinate with the family
• What follow up conversations are needed

Scenario Practice
Small group or individual reflection
• Supporting someone with limited verbal communication
• Supporting someone with strong spiritual practices
• Supporting someone who becomes anxious about change
• Supporting someone who does not want to attend a ceremony

Key Takeaways
• Clarity and predictability reduce distress
• Consistency across supporters matters
• Cultural and spiritual beliefs shape understanding
• Visual and concrete tools improve comprehension
• Use local BC resources for ongoing support

Next Steps for Providers
• Review the linked BC resources
• Adapt visual tools for the person you support
• Discuss alignment with your team and family
• Identify rituals or practices that matter to the individual
• Build a follow up plan for continued conversation

Closing 
Thank you for your participation
For more information contact Home Sharing Support Society BC

Contact Info: info@homesharingbc.ca