Compassionate Caregiving

Promoting Mindful Self-Compassion Along the Caregiving Journey

For every person who is facing death, there are at least 5 other people intimately affected.

Unpaid (familial) caregivers represent a $4 billion per year cost savings to Canada's health care system.

Caregivers help with a multitude of tasks and take on various support roles, whether it’s helping in the home, dealing with the endless schedule of medical appointments, or trying to stay “tuned in”. Amidst all this, it’s understandable that people in caregiving roles often don’t find time to also take care of themselves. Home Hospice Association’s Compassionate Caregiving program is there to support, empower and educate those caring for people who are facing death.

About Compassionate Caregiving

By identifying the common sources of caregiver stress, this program supports volunteer, familial and professional caregivers with culturally sensitive human connection. The goal is to reduce caregiver burnout and empathy fatigue as well as to mitigate stress-related work absenteeism.

The Compassionate Caregiving Program is offered free of charge to those who need it and to any organization interested in taking the lead of bringing Compassionate Caregiving to their community.

Get involved

Volunteer

Become a Visiting Volunteer in your community and give energy-sustaining respite and invaluable support to primary caregivers.

Join our Compassionate Caregiving Program Team and help build the capacity of this program including volunteer engagement, community outreach, agency partnerships and financial sustainability.

Complete your Post Secondary Education as our Program Manager. Ideally suited for someone currently enrolled in a Social Worker, Social Service Worker or Community Worker Program.

Join our Moonlit Memory Walk

Help us raise money for our Compassionate Caregiving program by joining our Moonlit Memory Walk, and celebrate the lives of parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and colleagues who have died. We also honour loved ones lost before, during, or after a pregnancy, the memory of pets that are no longer with us, and those who donated life-saving organs to others.

Partner

Have you identified a gap in how your community / agency / organization approaches support for those at the beginning of an illness journey? If the answer is yes, then we want to partner with you. Visit our Community Partnerships Page to learn more

Support our fundraising efforts as a corporate or event sponsor and help us raise awareness of this important program.

How Compassionate Caregiving Helps

Visiting Volunteers

The oxygen mask theory reminds us that we cannot take care of others unless we find some time to take care of ourselves.  When someone is in a caregiving role, however, what is known in theory is often not practiced. Having a team of volunteers in your community who can provide temporary respite to primary caregivers means they are able to take a bit of time for themselves confident that their loved one is safe and comfortable.

Not for Me Days

We know how caregivers react when asked, “so what are you doing to take care of yourself?” The answer is usually, “Me??? Oh, I'm fine! Thanks for asking, but I really don’t need anything.” The challenge then became creating an experience that provides care for a caregiver but also fits meaningfully into the caregiving role. The solution? Not for Me Days! These are designed to teach caregivers techniques and strategies to bring comfort and care to those they are caring for in such a way that the caregivers themselves also get to experience that same comfort and care.

Compassionate Caregiving Online Modules

This is a seven-part educational series that supports any individual acting in a caregiving role for someone who may be facing death. Built on a foundation of mindfulness and compassion and drawing from expertise of professionals in the four domains of care (legacy, planning, end of life and grief), the modules will benefit anyone in a caregiving role (familial, volunteer or professional).

If you need support or would like to inquire about Compassionate Caregiving services in your area, please contact us at info@homehospiceassociation.com

Supporting caregivers is crucial for the well-being of those they care for. Your donation supports familial, volunteer, and dedicated professional caregivers giving comfort, companionship, and unwavering support, whether it's in the familiar surroundings of home, in a facility, or in the marginalized worlds of houseless and incarcerated populations.

Recognize the efforts of these invaluable individuals and help create a compassionate and sustainable caregiving ecosystem.

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Our Partners

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

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