Our Story
Our Beginning: A Shared Vision for End-of-Life Support
Home Hospice Association began with a simple but urgent belief: no one should face illness, caregiving, dying, or grief without meaningful support and connection. In 2014, Tracey Robertson, Glen Burkholder, and Jeanne O’Kell came together after witnessing the same reality across caregiving environments, homes, and communities: too many individuals and families were navigating end of life experiences without the support systems, practical guidance, or community connections they needed. They recognized that while healthcare plays an essential role, compassionate end of life care cannot rest solely within the healthcare system alone. Communities also need people who are better prepared to support one another through some of life’s most difficult experiences.
A Growing Canadian Challenge
Across Canada, individuals and families continue to face significant challenges related to aging, caregiving, serious illness, grief, and social isolation. Access to palliative care remains limited in many communities, while caregivers and front line support systems are increasingly strained. At the same time, many people feel unprepared to navigate the realities of illness, caregiving, dying, and grief within their own families, workplaces, and communities.These challenges reach far beyond any one sector or setting and continue to affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances across the country.
Changing the Conversation About Death
As HHA’s work expanded, another challenge became increasingly visible: many individuals and families were navigating end of life experiences in isolation because conversations about dying, caregiving, and grief often remain difficult or avoided altogether. HHA believes stronger communities are built when people have greater opportunities to engage in open, informed, and culturally sensitive conversations related to end of life experiences.Through public engagement, education, community conversations, and collaborative initiatives, HHA works to help increase awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen public understanding related to caregiving, dying, death, and grief across Canada.
Looking Ahead: Our Commitment to Accessible Care
Since becoming a registered charity in 2016, Home Hospice Association has continued to grow alongside communities and organizations across Canada that recognize the importance of compassionate, community based approaches to end of life care. Today, HHA continues to work toward a future where individuals, families, workplaces, and communities are better prepared to support one another through illness, caregiving, dying, and grief with dignity, connection, and compassion.