MAiDHouse: a qualitative study on structured community-based support for grief and bereavement in Canada

The aim of this study was to understand how MAiDHouse's services shape the experiences of grief and bereavement.

This was a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were coded in duplicate and then analysed with a content-analysis approach through MaxQDA. We developed themes deductively based on a previously published framework and inductively from the data.

MAiDHouse is a community-based, national, non-profit organisation and registered charity that provides those eligible to receive medical assistance in dying (MAiD) with a supportive and comfortable setting. MAiDHouse does not provide any MAiD assessments or MAiD provisions. Instead, MAiDHouse's supports may affect grief and bereavement for family and friends. The goal of this qualitative study was to understand how MAiDHouse's services shape the experiences of grief and bereavement.

We invited primary contacts of individuals who received MAiD at MAiDHouse between April and December 2022. 13 participants completed semi-structured interviews over Zoom.

Participants' perceptions of MAiDHouse's grief and bereavement supports ranged from net neutral to positive. The location's accessibility, staff's longitudinal follow-ups and the facilitation of logistics during an emotional time are valued. During the MAiD process, there are multiple sources of confusion with regard to MAiD access, provider responsibilities and organisational roles, all of which can affect future bereavement. Participants' appreciation for MAiDHouse is due to the responsiveness of staff, personalised and attentive communication and facilitation of logistics which in turn shaped the grief experience.

Our study explored the lived experiences of family and friends of individuals who received MAiD at MAiDHouse. Participants generally acknowledged that MAiDHouse's role in their bereavement journey exceeded beyond providing a physical location. Future implications for practice include strengthening expectation-setting before provision and building interdisciplinary grief supports. MAiDHouse was perceived to be an easily accessible community resource to address multiple factors surrounding grief and bereavement.