Fostering ‘compassionate communities’ is vital in helping families across the island of Ireland to deal with bereavement in the coming years, a new research paper has claimed.
The paper, authored by academics from Queen’s University’s School of Psychology, found that increasing community support networks can help families facing serious illness, death and grief better than relaying on health and social care services alone.
The research was commissioned by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), Foyle Hospice, and the Irish Hospice Foundation, with support from the Republic’s Shared Island Civic Society Fund and the north’s Public Health Agency.
The paper makes a series of recommendations for helping create more compassionate communities that can assist those facing the illness or death of a loved one, including through the aid of schools, workplaces and trade unions.
Paper author, Dr Lisa Graham-Wisener from QUB said: “The death rate is expected to more than double across the island of Ireland in the next 20 years and we also expect an increase in the number of people dying at home.
“It is vital that we recognise the value communities can bring in supporting those facing the challenges associated with serious illness. Communities can complement formal healthcare services by helping to address broader aspects of suffering. For example, through developing networks of practical support for those with serious illness and their families.”
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