Last Aid
Serious illness, dying, and grief can make us feel helpless. The Last Aid course builds understanding and confidence so we can better support those who are dying and grieving and have less fear about our own mortality.
About the Last Aid Course
Originating in Germany, and now being offered in twenty-two countries, Last Aid is an academically reviewed, public education course that gives the average person an overview of dying and grief.
Last Aid is often described as a First Aid course for end-of-life. This short course gives you the information you need to support your loved ones, and provides access to a great deal of resources, including organizations, websites, books, and videos.
Course Construction
The Last Aid course is broken down into four modules, each approximately 45 minutes long.
Death as a normal part of life
Includes a description of the usually peaceful and pain-free dying process.
Clarifies aims and goals of palliative care.
Planning ahead
Learn how palliative care and hospice care are provided.
Guidelines to help navigate the healthcare system.
The basics of Advance Care Planning.
Relieving suffering
Practical ways to provide care at the end of life.
Explanations of common signs and symptoms.
Explanations of often used medical terms and procedures.
Final goodbyes
Explore some of the rituals and practices used by various cultures when death occurs.
Learn how to normalize grief and how to talk about it with others, especially children.
Who Should Attend?
Laid Aid is for everyone who wants to learn more about what they can do for those close to them during dying, death, and grieving.
It is for individuals who want to feel more comfortable and confident in talking about, and planning for the end of life of their loved ones, and of their own.
Acclamations
In both 2012 and 2015 Last Aid won awards at the international Palliative Care Network Conference. Also, in 2015 Last Aid was awarded the “Recognition and Advancement Prize for Outpatient Palliative Care”, by the German Society for Palliative Medicine. And, as a participant in the nationwide competition Startsocial, was honoured by Chancellor Merkel as one of Germany’s best civic projects.
In 2016, Last Aid participated in the HelferHerzen (HelperHeart) project.
In 2021/2022 Last Aid Courses for Kids and Teens was honoured as one of the best social projects in the Startsocial competition by the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
