A Caregiver's Guide, A Handbook About End-of-life Care

This 2015 revised national edition of A Caregiver's Guide: a Handbook About End-of-Life Care was developed by the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus and the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. Click the above cover page or the download icon on the right to peruse / download the Guide.

A Caregiver's Guide is a joint initiative of the Order of Saint Lazarus in Canada and the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.

A Caregiver's Guide was created to provide information for family caregivers to draw upon when preparing and caring for a loved one who has a progressive illness, especially at home. It was developed to complement resources and information provided to caregivers by healthcare professionals, including hospice palliative care teams.

Click/touch the above image to view the table of contents of the guide.

A Caregiver's Guide's content builds on the knowledge, practice, insight and invaluable experiences of various seasoned hospice palliative care professionals from across Canada, incorporating their feedback and the lived experiences of supporting caregivers. This handbook provides specific information about planning ahead, preparing to be a caregiver, dealing with a progresive diagnosis, giving physical care, caring for physical problems, what to expect in the final days, and grieving.

To get the most from this guide, please feel free to read it at your own pace, consulting specific topics when you require guidance and support. Remember that if there is something you do not understand or if you need clarification, consult your healthcare team. If you intend to read the whole book at once, please understand that not all parts may, or will, apply to your particular situation. Each person is unique and may experience an illness and its progression in a different way.

A print copy for personal use may be ordered directly from the Order via an email request to : . Please be sure to include your address and phone number in the body of the email so that our volunteers are able to connect with you and ensure a timely delivery. Boxed quantities (50 per box) for institutional use are also available by connecting with the chancery email. The cost per box is $250/box plus HST and shipping. The Order returns all funds received to costs related to printing and or reprinting. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Canadians through this guide. Your support of those at the end of life and those who care is appreciated.
Donations to assist the Order in delivering this service are welcomed by clicking Donate to the Grand Priory in Canada