Last Aid®

End-of-life literacy programs to build compassionate communities -
A Public Palliative Care Education initiative

“ You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life.
We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully,
but also to live until you die.”

— Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement

What is Last Aid®?

The Last Aid course is the educational basis of compassionate communities and helps to raise awareness on topics like palliative care, death, dying, grief and bereavement. The concept of Last Aid and the public knowledge approach to teach palliative care for the public was developed in 2008 by Dr Georg Bollig, an emergency care physician and consultant in Palliative Medicine. This program helps to educate the community about the basics of palliative care and care for dying people, delivered using standardised materials developed and updated regularly by the Last Aid International Workgroup.

Since then, more than 60,000 citizens have attended the Last Aid course,  with over 4.500 Last Aid trainers covering over 21 countries like Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Lithuania, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Slovenia, Scotland and now Singapore, with the movement gaining traction globally. The Life Review holds the licence for Last Aid in Singapore.

Official launch

“The introduction of Last Aid in Singapore is a significant milestone in advancing end-of-life care education in Asia. Our goal is to equip as many people as possible with the knowledge and skills to support their loved ones through the final stages of life, fostering a culture of compassion and understanding." Dr. Georg Bollig, founder of Last Aid

  • Attending The Last Aid course with The Life Review was an enlightening and deeply meaningful experience. The course approached end-of-life care with such sensitivity and compassion, offering valuable insights into a topic that is often overlooked or avoided. The facilitators were knowledgeable, empathetic, and created a safe space for open discussion, allowing participants to reflect on the importance of dignity, comfort, and understanding during the final stages of life. I left the course with not only practical tools and knowledge but also a renewed sense of gratitude for life and the relationships we share. This course has given me the confidence to support my loved ones facing the challenges of end-of-life care while fostering personal growth and awareness. I wholeheartedly recommend The Last Aid to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of this essential aspect of life. This has been an experience I will carry with me forever.

    Ms Juraida Jumali
    Caregiver to Mdm Juariah (NKF patient)

  • To be honest, even though I've had end-of-life conversations with my clients and patients as a social worker, discussing my own death felt quite uncomfortable and challenging. I often avoid the topic, thinking it won’t matter when I’m gone. However, attending The Last Aid programme with The Life Review was incredibly enriching and an eye-opener for me. The wealth of knowledge and compassion brought by you and Ming Li during the sessions was both enlightening and comforting. I really appreciated your candid and heartfelt sharing about death, dying, and navigating grief, as well as your ability to create a safe space for open dialogue. I admit I may not have all the answers about my own end-of-life plans, but this is a start, and I’m hopeful it will help ensure a meaningful and peaceful transition when the time comes. Thank you both for your insights!

    Shaqilah Zabah
    Social Worker - Community Care
    The National Kidney Foundation

  • Life Review’s Last Aid provided a necessary pause in the busy-ness of our daily lives to have meaningful conversations and reflections about how we could prepare ourselves and our loved ones for the inevitable. Ming Li’s well-crafted facilitation of the sessions and Naadira’s courageous sharing of her deeply personal experiences stirred us into considering what is important for ourselves and our significant others and to act as needed. This applies to me both personally and as a social worker that works with patients where end-of-life conversations do take place. Last Aid is a must-attend kind of conversation that I hope many others would take the opportunity to benefit from as much as I have as personally and professionally.

    Saiful Nizam
    Principal Social Worker
    NKF Singapore

  • This (Last Aid) workshop has truly touched my heart, offering invaluable knowledge and compassionate support for those navigating end-of-life care. I am deeply grateful for the chance to be part of such a meaningful initiative. Your dedication to spreading awareness and support is incredibly inspiring, and I wholeheartedly support your efforts to reach and help more people on this important journey.

    Heron Goh
    Caregiver to both parents with dementia

  • We had the privilege of participating in the Life Review's Last Aid training, and it has been an invaluable experience. The training provided deep insights into the importance of end-of-life planning and taught us how to make meaningful connections with the people we care about before it’s too late. It equipped us, as social workers, with essential knowledge and wisdom on how to normalize end-of-life conversations, something especially critical in the healthcare sector

    Wendy Tan
    Assistant Manager - Community Care
    The National Kidney Foundation

Elderly man standing at a gate in the daytime

Why is it important ?

As we transition towards a super-aged society by 2026, there will be a huge surge in the number of caregivers responsible for seniors. This will be further complicated by higher incidence of chronic diseases, and increasing demand on palliative care services.

A 2014 Lien Foundation survey found that 77% want to die at home, but only 27% do. Additionally only half (53%) are comfortable discussing their own death while a third (33.4%) would do so with someone who is dying.

There is an urgent need to provide end-of-life literacy to the broader community to support the needs of the changing demographics.

People sitting in a modern conference room with large windows, participating in a talk or presentation, featuring comfortable seating and a focus on a speaker at the front with a laptop.

What are the benefits of the program?

  • Improve confidence and skills: Raise awareness and knowledge of palliative care among the community, empower them with the confidence to care for seriously ill individuals

  • Ease discomfort and reduce stigma : Encourage open discussions and normalise conversations around death, dying and bereavement, helping to break down societal stigma

  • Enhance community support: Buildcompassionate communities by fostering individual and collective capability to support those nearing the end-of-life or bereaved.

Two people sitting on wooden stumps by a lake, talking during sunset.

What does it cover ?

Each face-to-face course is delivered by 2 trained instructors covering both education and reflection. Topics include end-of-life care, advance care planning and decision making, symptom management, and cultural aspects of death and bereavement.
The modules include:-

  • Dying as a normal part of life

  • Planning ahead

  • Relieving suffering

  • Final goodbyes

References

We can facilitate Last Aid at your non-profit, community care and business organisations