Disabilities

End-of-Life Care for People with Disabilities & their Caregivers

This program is dedicated to providing compassionate, inclusive end-of-life care and grief support tailored to individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.

Over X% of people with developmental disabilities report feeling overlooked in healthcare settings, highlighting the need for specialized support at all stages of life, including end-of-life care.

About this Program

At Home Hospice Association, we recognize that people with disabilities often face unique challenges, particularly when navigating end-of-life experiences or the loss of a loved one. This program is inspired by the reflections of Dr. Eliza Chandler, whose essay "Cracks" symbolizes how disability is often viewed as something to avoid, yet holds the potential for connection, strength, and pride.

Our program seeks to embrace this perspective, bridging the gaps in understanding and care by offering tailored support to individuals with disabilities, their families, and care teams. From workshops to personal support sessions, our program creates a space where everyone can be seen, valued, and supported throughout their end-of-life journey.

NEED More program info - what research are we drawing on? What are the problems we're tackling and our proposed solutions?

“quote from Mar about Aunt” – Mar Morrow, Program Lead

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Photo by Robert Kneschke on Canva

How this Program Helps

Advance Care Planning Workshop for Parents of Children with Disabilities

This workshop provides tools and guidance for parents and guardians of children with disabilities to plan for the end-of-life care of their child in a way that ensures their needs and the parents' wishes are respected.

Advance Care Planning Workshop for Caregiving Teams

This workshop offers specialized training for caregiving professionals to help parents and guardians develop Advance Care Plans for individuals with disabilities. It also equips care teams with the skills to create plans when they are responsible for decision-making. The training fosters clear communication within care teams, ensuring smooth transitions and consistent care, even with staff changes. By attending, professionals will be better prepared to support families and colleagues in providing compassionate, thoughtful care.

1-on-1 ACP Support

Work directly with an experienced Death Doula to create a personalized end-of-life plan, ensuring dignity and autonomy for individuals with disabilities.

Grief Support Workshop for People with Disabilities

This workshop focuses on how to effectively support individuals with disabilities as they grieve the loss of someone significant in their lives.

Program Team

Mar Morrow

Get Involved

Work with Us

Are you an HHA-trained Death Worker or Candidate passionate about ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the care and dignity they deserve at the end of life? Or do you already work with people with developmental disabilities and are seeking to expand your professional opportunities? Join our facilitation team!

Walk with Us

Raise awareness and funds to support this program by joining our "Sidewalk Stories" team in this year's Moonlit Memory Walk. Every step taken and every dollar raised brings us closer to ensuring that people with developmental disabilities receive tailored end-of-life care and support.

Support Us

Your donation allows us to continue expanding this program in communities across Canada, ensuring that more individuals with disabilities, their families, and care teams receive the support they need.

Please donate today [LINK].

Does your agency serve people with disabilities? Does your team want to better support the families of your clients with Advance Care Planning? We would love to collaborate and share our skills and knowledge with your community.

Together, we can create a compassionate network of care for individuals with disabilities. Reach out to our Program Lead, Mar Morrow, at mar@homehospiceassociation.com to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Partner With Us

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Our Partners

We are incredibly thankful for the meaningful collaboration and generous support of our partners!

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Need list of references from our program research