A compassionate community is everyone’s responsibility.

Blog 3   07 10 19

Since my first engagement with death and dying studies in 2014, I see how much momentum this field of interest has gained in Canada, even more in the USA and certainly in the UK as well. In a brief search over the internet and Facebook, I saw many people joining the movement for normalizing dying, death and grief within the context of our daily lives. At school, at work, in our homes and in conversations across all spectrums people are inviting more openness, more normalization and more honesty about our mortality.    

In 2016 the legalization of Medical Assistance for Dying, MAID, was adopted. Suddenly, proper palliative care for all citizens facing end-of-life becomes an even more pressing issue, not only for the government but for all of us.

Professor Allan Kellehear came for the second time in 2015 to promote Compassionate Communities, a social movement and model of palliative care, rooted in community development processes.

The definition of palliative care is now broadening. It is not only considering end-of-life care for people but also includes individuals whose death from a chronic illness may take years. Which is a growing demographic considering the long process of aging.

To support the palliative care approach, medical professionals, caregivers and community members need to be included in the continuum of care.

A key advocate for improving the quality of palliating care services across our country is Pallium Canada. It also focuses on mobilizing the spread of Compassionate Communities across Canada and has developed toolkits for community initiatives.

 If you are interested to start Compassionate Communities in your era, please have a look at Pallium to get started.

I’ve already downloaded their toolkit. I’m inspired and encouraged by this support.