Strengthening Canada's Capacity to Support the Human Experience Surrounding Illness,
Caregiving, Dying, Death, and Grief
Home Hospice Association (HHA) is a Canadian charity dedicated to strengthening the community based, non medical layer of support that exists between and beyond healthcare and funeral systems. We believe that every person deserves compassionate support through illness, caregiving, dying, death, and grief, regardless of age, ability, culture, identity, geography, income, housing status, faith, family structure, or life circumstance.
While healthcare systems address medical needs and funeral services respond after a death has occurred, many people face emotional, social, and practical challenges with limited support.
Caregivers, front line workers, families, and communities are often expected to navigate these experiences without the knowledge, confidence, relationships, or resources they need. HHA strengthens Canada's capacity to respond through community based, non medical approaches that complement existing systems of care.
Over the past decade, HHA has contributed to:
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Strengthening workforce capacity
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Expanding community based support
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Advancing dying, death, and grief literacy
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Supporting underserved populations
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Developing innovative approaches to care and companioning
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Strengthening organizational and community responses
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Generating new knowledge through Participatory Action Research
Adding the Missing Layer to Person Directed Care
Committed to Change
Community Capacity Building: Helping individuals, caregivers, and communities build confidence, preparedness, and connection.
Workforce Development and Education: Developing knowledgeable, confident, and compassionate supporters through education, mentorship, internships, and professional development.
Participatory Action Research: Working alongside communities to identify unmet needs, amplify lived experience, and co create practical solutions.
Agency Partnerships and Practice Change: Supporting organizations to strengthen the way they respond to illness, caregiving, dying, death, and grief.
Dying, Death, and Grief Literacy: Helping communities engage in meaningful conversations that increase understanding and preparedness.
Demonstration Projects and Innovation: Developing and testing new approaches that address gaps in support for underserved and underrepresented populations.