PARTNERSHIP
Home Hospice Association and OLA: Supporting Communities Together
Home Hospice Association (HHA) is proud to work with the Ontario Library Association (OLA) to bring important resources to Ontario communities.
The OLA is the largest library association in Canada with over 5,000 members, representing library staff, teachers, and supporters from libraries across the province. Their work helps libraries grow as centers for learning and sharing knowledge. Member libraries act as accessible community hubs where people can find the information they need in an accessible and comfortable setting.
We know that talking about dying, death, and grief can be very hard for many people. Our partnership goal is to provide knowledge and resources about these topics in a place where everyone feels welcome. By having these resources available to library users, we are helping to ensure that no one faces loss or struggles with these life-altering experiences without support and access to knowledge.
Together, we are
building compassionate,
informed, and connected communities.
Death and Grief Literacy
Understanding, Supporting
Empowering.
Death and grief literacy is about building the skills and comfort to talk about the end of life. It means understanding what happens when someone is dying and learning how different cultures or loved ones handle loss. It helps take away the fear and stigma and remove the barriers so we can see death as a natural part of life that we can comfortably talk about. When we have this knowledge, we feel more ready to support our loved ones, and even ourselves.
Developing death literacy is a vital component of fostering compassionate and resilient communities, allowing for a proactive approach to care and personal advocacy. It bridges the gap between fear and understanding, transforming the way we support one another through life’s most certain and profound transitions.
No one should navigate grief, caregiving, or loss without support and understanding.
Available Resources
Information and support
when you need it.
We have put together a special collection of books and tools that are organized for many different types of conversations and activities related to end-of-life and grief. The resources embrace our diverse communities and ensure that everyone can find support that reflects their lived experiences and the identities that they may hold – for example:
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giving parents and guardians the right words and tools to help children understand loss
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offering older adults a way to honor their life stories
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validating the very real pain of losing a pet
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providing clear, sensory-friendly information for neurodivergent individuals
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offering gentle guidance for those facing chronic illness, in a caregiving role, or wanting to learn about specific end-of-life choices like MAiD
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including stories that respect the traditions and histories of BIPOC, Métis, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities
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Wanting to learn about end-of-life planning
Supporting those facing the end of life is a shared community responsibility. The library acts as a host partner, providing a familiar and trusted space where community members can find resources and connection. Through this partnership, we fill gaps in care by offering tools and resources that help meet needs such as grief support and end-of-life planning. Providing these resources to our communities helps to break down the walls of silence and isolation. Ultimately, they turn the library into a safe space where no one has to face fear, loss, or grief alone.
Connect and Partner with Us
Stay informed about our ongoing partnership
by subscribing (below) for updates on our website.
Interested in joining our work?
Reach out to us at
info@homehospiceassociation.com
to learn about the opportunities available.
Want to become an HHA partner?
Visit our
Community Partnerships page
and let us know how you’d like to connect!