MAiD Professional Development

Compassionate Support When

Medical Assistance in Dying Arises

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) has become part of the end of life experience for many Canadians. As individuals, families, and communities navigate decisions surrounding MAiD, there is a growing need for knowledgeable, compassionate, and non judgmental support before, during, and after a provision.Home Hospice Association's MAiD Education for End of Life Care Providers is designed to help participants strengthen their understanding of MAiD while developing the confidence and practical skills needed to support individuals and families through one of life's most complex experiences.Grounded in community based, non medical approaches to care, this workshop explores the human experience that surrounds MAiD, including communication, bedside presence, grief, family dynamics, ethical considerations, and the role of the support person.

Why This Education Matters

Many care providers, companions, caregivers, and helping professionals find themselves supporting people who are considering, pursuing, or grieving a MAiD death without specialized preparation. Questions surrounding communication, family dynamics, anticipatory grief, role boundaries, and emotional support can leave even experienced professionals feeling uncertain.

This education helps bridge that gap by preparing participants to provide compassionate, informed support while remaining grounded in their professional and personal role boundaries.

Why This Education Matters

Medical Assistance in Dying continues to play an increasing role in end of life care across Canada. While legislation and clinical processes guide eligibility and provision, individuals and families often face significant emotional, relational, spiritual, and practical challenges throughout the journey. Many care providers, companions, caregivers, and helping professionals find themselves supporting people who are considering, pursuing, or grieving a MAiD death without specialized preparation. Questions surrounding communication, family dynamics, anticipatory grief, role boundaries, and emotional support can leave even experienced professionals feeling uncertain.This education helps bridge that gap by preparing participants to provide compassionate, informed support while remaining grounded in their professional and personal role boundaries.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is intended for individuals who already provide support within end of life, caregiving, healthcare, hospice, palliative care, grief, or community care environments.

Participants may include:

Death Doulas and End of Life Doulas
Healthcare professionals
Hospice and palliative care providers
Social workers and counsellors
Spiritual care providers
Grief and bereavement professionals
Community support workers
Experienced caregivers and companioning practitioners

Participants must have previous education, training, or experience in caregiving, end of life care, hospice, palliative care, grief support, healthcare, or a related helping profession.

Upcoming Dates:

Saturday, September 26 - Sunday, September 27, 2026

Training Fee:

$500.00

$375.00 for HHA Death Doulas & Candidates

Please note: The registration fee is non-refundable, but is transferable to one of our scholarship funds or community programs for which a donation receipt can be issued.

Class Time:

(Eastern Time, online via Zoom):

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

What You Will Learn: Participants will explore:

The Canadian MAiD landscape and evolving end of life care environment
The human experience surrounding MAiD
Communication approaches that foster trust, compassion, and respect
Family dynamics, conflict, and differing perspectives
Anticipatory grief and emotional preparation
The role of the support person before, during, and after provision
Bedside presence and compassionate companioning
Ethical considerations and role boundaries
Grief, bereavement, and ongoing support following a MAiD death
Self awareness, self care, and reflective practice

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion, you will be able to:

Describe the emotional, relational, and practical realities that often accompany MAiD.
Support individuals and families with greater confidence and compassion.
Recognize appropriate role boundaries within MAiD related support.
Respond to challenging conversations in a respectful and non judgmental manner.
Provide informed support before, during, and after a MAiD provision.
Understand common grief and bereavement experiences following MAiD.
Apply community based, non medical approaches to care and support.

What Makes This Workshop Different?

This workshop does not focus solely on legislation, eligibility, or clinical processes. Instead, it focuses on the people. Participants explore the emotional, relational, and human experiences that surround MAiD and learn how to provide compassionate support that complements existing healthcare and palliative care services. The workshop recognizes that meaningful support often happens within relationships, families, communities, and care environments long before and long after a provision occurs.

Workshop Format

Two day live online workshop
Interactive discussions and facilitated learning
Real world case examples and reflection
Opportunities for questions and shared learning
Certificate of Completion provided

MAiD and the Death Doula is offered as part of HHA's The Diana Pathway, a program designed to help Death Doulas navigate the complexities surrounding MAiD and to compassionately support an individual’s right to a dignified death.

Meet the Facilitators

Lisa Bonneville

Lisa is a death doula and hospice and bereavement counsellor, as well as a facilitator for HHA’s Death Doula and MAiD and the Death Doula Certificate Programs. She believes that communication plays a huge role in preparing for end-of-life as well as the grief that follows. She’ll talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about dying, death and everything in between.

Most of Lisa’s experience is in residential hospice but she has also worked in long-term care, funeral homes and had the privilege of caring for palliative Catholic Nuns. Many people have had a hand in supporting and guiding her along the way to where she is today, and she does her best to pass on this wisdom and knowledge in her own teaching.

You might also be interested in...

This is one of our most requested Death Cafés, and we are proud to provide an open forum to discuss and destigmatize the topic of MAiD in a safe, non-judgmental space.

Find upcoming dates here, and check out our full Death Café programming here.