Palliative care and hospicing embody key principles that can guide us in living more mindfully and compassionately

As Hospice Plett celebrates the 10th anniversary of the World Health Assembly’s landmark resolution on palliative care, we reflect on the profound wisdom this holistic approach to end-of-life care offers for our daily lives and societal challenges.

Historical Context

In 2014, the World Health Assembly passed a landmark resolution recognising palliative care as a fundamental component of health systems worldwide. This reflected a significant shift in how we approach end-of-life care globally. The principles underlying this compassionate, person-centred approach hold valuable lessons for how we navigate life’s transitions and societal changes.

What Can We Learn from Palliative Care and Hospicing?

Palliative care and hospicing embody key principles that can guide us in living more mindfully and compassionately. At its core, palliative care takes a holistic approach, addressing not just physical needs, but also emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of well-being. This teaches us the importance of tending to all dimensions of our lives, rather than focusing solely on physical health or material success.

The hospice philosophy encourages us to face mortality openly and honestly. By acknowledging the finite nature of life, we can live more purposefully and appreciate the present moment more fully. This doesn’t mean dwelling on death, but rather using our awareness of life’s impermanence to prioritise what truly matters to us.

Collaboration is another crucial aspect of palliative care. Teams bring together diverse expertise to provide comprehensive support. This interdisciplinary approach reminds us of the value of seeking varied perspectives and working across boundaries to address complex challenges in our personal and professional lives.

Quality of life, rather than mere longevity, is the focus of palliative care. This principle invites us to reflect deeply on what constitutes a life well-lived. It encourages us to make choices aligned with our values and to prioritise meaningful experiences and relationships over surface-level achievements.

Hospice workers practice deep listening and compassionate presence, skills that can enrich all our relationships. By truly being present with others, withholding judgment, and offering empathy, we can foster deeper connections and understanding in all areas of our lives.

Finally, hospice care involves accepting and adapting to continual changes. This principle can help us navigate life’s inevitable transitions with more grace and resilience, teaching us to flow with change rather than resist it.

Hospicing Modernity: A New Perspective

Building on these lessons, philosopher and hospice volunteer Stephen Jenkinson introduced the concept of “hospicing modernity.” This approach invites us to tend to our changing world with the same grace and intention we bring to supporting individuals facing life-limiting illnesses.

Hospicing modernity acknowledges that certain aspects of our current way of life may be approaching their end. Rather than resisting this change, we’re called to face societal transitions honestly and openly. This means having the courage to look squarely at the challenges we face, whether they’re environmental, social, or economic.

Just as hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life, hospicing modernity asks us to nurture what’s life-affirming in our culture while letting go of what’s no longer serving us. This might involve reimagining our relationships with each other and with the natural world, moving away from exploitative practices towards more regenerative ones.

Importantly, this perspective isn’t about giving up or admitting defeat. Instead, it’s about creating space for new, more sustainable ways of living to emerge. Like a hospice worker who helps patients find meaning and peace in their final days, we can approach our changing world with compassion, creativity, and hope.

Practical Applications

These principles are already being applied in innovative ways throughout society. Community Death Cafes, for instance, provide spaces for open discussions about mortality. By bringing death out of the shadows, these gatherings help participants reflect on what gives their lives meaning, often leading to more conscious and intentional living.

The Transition Town Movement offers another example of these principles in action. This global grassroots network applies end-of-life care principles to help communities become more resilient and sustainable. They face the realities of climate change and resource depletion head-on, while fostering community connections and local solutions.

We’re also seeing a growing interest in mindfulness and contemplative practices. This trend reflects a desire to live more fully in the present moment, a key teaching of hospice care. By cultivating awareness and presence, people are finding ways to reduce stress, increase empathy, and engage more deeply with their lives and communities.

Thrifting and Circularity: Living the Principles

The PlettAId Foundation’s “2nd Hand Goods for 1st Class Care” campaign exemplifies how we can apply these lessons in practical ways. Thrifting extends the life of goods, teaching us to value and care for what we have. It’s a practical exercise in resource conservation, reflecting the hospice principle of making the most of what’s available.

According to a recent study by ThredUp, if everyone bought one used item instead of new this year, it would save 5.7 billion pounds of CO2 emissions – a tangible impact from a simple change in habits.

Moreover, charity shops foster local relationships and resource sharing, embodying the collaborative spirit of palliative care teams. They become community hubs where people connect, share stories, and support a common cause. This aligns beautifully with the holistic, community-centred approach of hospice care.

Thrifting also promotes equity by making quality goods available to more people, reflecting the palliative care principle of dignity for all. It challenges the constant drive for new possessions, encouraging us instead to find value and beauty in what already exists. By embracing thrifting and circularity, we practice a more mindful, sustainable approach to consumption and community – one that honours the interconnectedness of all things, much like the hospice philosophy does.

Challenges and Opportunities

Applying hospice principles to how we live isn’t without challenges. It requires us to confront uncomfortable truths about change and loss, which can be emotionally taxing. Shifting from a growth-oriented mindset to one focused on quality of life and sustainability can be difficult, especially in a culture that often equates success with constant expansion.

Implementing these principles on a societal scale requires significant shifts in values and systems. It calls for reimagining economic models, educational approaches, and governance structures. This is no small task, and it can feel overwhelming at times.

However, these challenges also present opportunities for profound personal and collective growth. They invite us to tap into our creativity, compassion, and resilience. Just as hospice care often leads to deep healing and meaningful connections, facing our societal challenges with this mindset can lead to innovative solutions and stronger communities.

Living the principles

Incorporating these lessons into our lives doesn’t require grand gestures. It starts with small, intentional actions. Begin by practicing mindfulness and presence in your daily interactions. This could be as simple as really listening to a friend without planning your response, or fully engaging in a task without multi-tasking.

Engage in community discussions about societal changes and personal values. This could involve joining a local community group, participating in town hall meetings, or simply having deeper conversations with friends and family about what matters most.

Embrace circular economy principles through practices like thrifting, repairing items instead of replacing them, or participating in community sharing initiatives. These actions not only reduce waste but also build community connections.

Consider volunteering for hospice, environmental, or social justice causes. This hands-on engagement can provide new perspectives and a sense of purpose. Finally, cultivate gratitude and appreciate the present moment. This practice, central to hospice care, can profoundly shift how we experience and engage with the world.

Embracing Transitions Ahead

Loss and change are integral to life.  As we navigate an era of rapid change, the wisdom of palliative care and hospicing offers a compassionate framework for living more fully and facing challenges with grace. Hospicing modernity invites us to face societal transitions with similar care and support, acknowledging grief while nurturing new possibilities. By applying these principles to our daily lives and societal issues, we can create a future of greater care for ourselves, each other, and our planet.

Hospice Plett invites you to join in this journey of reimagining how we live. Together, we can collectively face life’s transitions – big and small – with wisdom, compassion, and hope. In doing so, we honour the interconnectedness of all life and contribute to a more sustainable, caring world.