Breathing Through the Difficult Conversations: End-of-Life Care Planning for Chronic Lung Conditions
Each breath matters. For those living with chronic lung conditions like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or advanced asthma, the journey can feel overwhelming—especially as the disease progresses. As Respiratory Therapists, we’ve had the honor of walking alongside many individuals and families facing the reality of end-stage lung disease. One of the most compassionate and empowering things we can do together is plan ahead—particularly for end-of-life care.
I know this isn’t an easy conversation to start. It’s tender. It’s emotional. But it’s also deeply important.
Why End-of-Life Planning Matters
When lung function declines and treatments begin to shift from curative to comfort-based, having a clear plan can provide peace of mind. It ensures that your voice remains central in guiding your care. It also relieves loved ones from making difficult decisions during moments of distress, grief, and uncertainty.
Without a plan, families often struggle to guess what their loved one might have wanted. This can lead to guilt, confusion, or even conflict during an already painful time. But with a plan, there's clarity. There’s comfort in knowing your wishes are known and respected.
The Heart of the Conversation: Your Values
End-of-life care planning isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about your values—what matters most to you. Do you wish to stay at home if possible? What kind of interventions would you accept, or prefer to avoid? Who do you want to speak on your behalf if you can’t?
These questions don’t need to be answered all at once, and you don’t have to do it alone. It starts with honest conversations—with your healthcare team, your family, and the people who love you.
How to Begin in British Columbia
In BC, we’re fortunate to have supportive tools and services that help make this process easier. One of the most helpful resources is the “My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment” guide, created by the Government of British Columbia.
This guide walks you through:
Choosing a Substitute Decision Maker
Understanding Advance Care Planning (ACP)
Describing your values and beliefs around care
Documenting your wishes in a Representation Agreement or Advance Directive
🟢 Download the My Voice guide here:
www.gov.bc.ca/myvoice
You don’t have to complete it all at once. Start by having conversations with your family and healthcare team. Talk about what matters to you. Do you want to be at home if possible? What kind of medical treatments or life supports would you prefer to accept—or not?
Support for Patients and Families in BC
In addition to the My Voice guide, here are a few organizations and services available in BC that can help you with palliative care and planning:
BC Centre for Palliative Care
Offers resources and guidance on advance care planning, palliative care, and grief support.
🌐 www.bc-cpc.caAdvance Care Planning in BC
A hub for tools and information to help you start the conversation.
🌐 www.advancecareplanning.caFraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, Northern Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health
Each regional health authority provides access to palliative home care services and palliative care teams. Talk to your doctor or case manager about a referral.
Honouring National Hospice Palliative Care Week (May 5–11, 2025)
This week in Canada is dedicated to raising awareness about hospice palliative care—an approach to care that focuses on quality of life, comfort, and dignity for people living with life-limiting illnesses. It’s a reminder that palliative care is about living well, right to the end.
Hospice and palliative services in BC are available in the community, in homes, in hospitals, and in dedicated hospice residences. They not only support the person who is ill, but also offer emotional and spiritual care for families.
A Respiratory Therapist’s (RT) Perspective
The RT role isn’t only to help you breathe easier, but to help you feel seen and supported through every stage of your condition. There is a deep comfort that thoughtful end-of-life planning can bring. It turns fear into clarity. It turns uncertainty into peace. And it ensures that your loved ones are not left wondering—they are left knowing.
This isn’t about giving up. It’s about taking control, easing the burden on those who love you, and making sure your final chapter reflects the life you lived—with intention and dignity.
Let’s start the conversation. For yourself. For your family. For peace of mind.
Because every breath—and every choice—matters.
If you're unsure where to start, ask your healthcare provider, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 for guidance on resources available in your area, or book your free 15 minute welcome appointment with an RT, in the Poplar Clinic, to ask your question.