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The April issue of our digest is dedicated to the concept of wellbeing—a topic that often remains in the shadow of medical concerns yet is decisive for quality of life in palliative care.
The author and curator of this issue is David Praill, a member of the PACED Board of Trustees. David was at the forefront of establishing the national hospice support system in the UK (Hospice UK), is a co-founder of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), and is the founder and Managing Editor of ehospice—a global platform connecting palliative care professional communities worldwide.
We are grateful to David for selecting materials that illuminate wellbeing from multiple perspectives: as a personal internal resource, as support for the professional community, and as a cornerstone of palliative care philosophy. We hope this digest becomes a tool for finding balance for specialists, patients, and their families, and serves as a reminder that there are many paths to wellbeing, which we will continue to explore together.
If you wish to continue any of the topics listed below through a discussion or webinar, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@paced.org.uk.
The April issue of our digest is dedicated to the concept of wellbeing—a topic that often remains in the shadow of medical concerns yet is decisive for quality of life in palliative care.
The author and curator of this issue is David Praill, a member of the PACED Board of Trustees. David was at the forefront of establishing the national hospice support system in the UK (Hospice UK), is a co-founder of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), and is the founder and Managing Editor of ehospice—a global platform connecting palliative care professional communities worldwide.
We are grateful to David for selecting materials that illuminate wellbeing from multiple perspectives: as a personal internal resource, as support for the professional community, and as a cornerstone of palliative care philosophy. We hope this digest becomes a tool for finding balance for specialists, patients, and their families, and serves as a reminder that there are many paths to wellbeing, which we will continue to explore together.
If you wish to continue any of the topics listed below through a discussion or webinar, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@paced.org.uk.
If you are a palliative care specialist representing one of the PACED countries and wish to join our community—please fill out this form, and we will contact you promptly.
Wellbeing Hub: A Support Tool for Children and Young Adults
A UK hospice, Dorothy House, has launched a Wellbeing Hub, developed in collaboration with young patients. The project focuses on mental health care and on creating an environment where young people can access support and resources to maintain their psychological wellbeing. For palliative care professionals, this is a valuable methodological resource: it contains verified, research-based video materials, podcasts, communication guides, and other practical tools for assessing emotions and building psychological resilience in young people. Specialists can use these resources to supplement family consultations, helping parents and children find a common language during the most difficult periods.
ehospice article: https://ehospice.com/uk_posts/dorothy-house-launches-new-wellbeing-hub-for-young-people/
Children and Young Peoples’ Wellbeing Hub: https://www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/children-and-young-peoples-wellbeing-hub/
A UK hospice, Dorothy House, has launched a Wellbeing Hub, developed in collaboration with young patients. The project focuses on mental health care and on creating an environment where young people can access support and resources to maintain their psychological wellbeing. For palliative care professionals, this is a valuable methodological resource: it contains verified, research-based video materials, podcasts, communication guides, and other practical tools for assessing emotions and building psychological resilience in young people. Specialists can use these resources to supplement family consultations, helping parents and children find a common language during the most difficult periods.
ehospice article: https://ehospice.com/uk_posts/dorothy-house-launches-new-wellbeing-hub-for-young-people/
Children and Young Peoples’ Wellbeing Hub: https://www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/children-and-young-peoples-wellbeing-hub/
Holding the Holders: Mindfulness and Support
Wellbeing in palliative care is a two-way process: it is critically important not only for patients but also for those who care for them. In the article Holding the Holders, the author reminds us that the resilience of the care system depends on professionals' wellbeing and invites colleagues from around the world to join a global dialogue on mutual support. In addition, an article from the American non-profit organisation Gilchrist offers specific mindfulness techniques applicable to both working with patients and preventing burnout. Combining these approaches helps palliative care specialists maintain their internal resources and ‘hold those who hold others’.
Holding the Holders by Ana Angarita, ehospice: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/holding-the-holders-rethinking-self-care-in-hospice-work/
Article on mindfulness practices: https://ehospice.com/usa_posts/mindfulness-practices-for-patients-and-caregivers/
Original source—Gilchrist non-profit organisation: https://gilchristcares.org/
Wellbeing in palliative care is a two-way process: it is critically important not only for patients but also for those who care for them. In the article Holding the Holders, the author reminds us that the resilience of the care system depends on professionals' wellbeing and invites colleagues from around the world to join a global dialogue on mutual support. In addition, an article from the American non-profit organisation Gilchrist offers specific mindfulness techniques applicable to both working with patients and preventing burnout. Combining these approaches helps palliative care specialists maintain their internal resources and ‘hold those who hold others’.
Holding the Holders by Ana Angarita, ehospice: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/holding-the-holders-rethinking-self-care-in-hospice-work/
Article on mindfulness practices: https://ehospice.com/usa_posts/mindfulness-practices-for-patients-and-caregivers/
Original source—Gilchrist non-profit organisation: https://gilchristcares.org/
The Healing Power of Nature and ‘Wild Swimming’
Nature is increasingly recognised in palliative care not merely as a pleasant addition but as a proven source of psychological wellbeing and a resource for pain management.
An article by Canadian doctor Owen Wiseman emphasises that reconnecting with nature at the end of life helps patients regain a sense of connection with the world. Building on this idea, the British SAGE project (Sound, Environment and Ageing), led by Professor Abigail Gardner, examines the impact of ‘green acoustics’ on residents of hospices and care homes. Preliminary results show that immersive soundscapes (such as the sounds of a waterfall, birdsong, and the sea) can significantly reduce anxiety and improve the mental state of people with limited mobility, effectively ‘erasing’ the walls of the wards.
While sound technologies help patients reconnect with nature, the Part of Life project addresses the needs of those who are grieving. The practice of ‘wild swimming’ is increasingly popular as a form of self-help for those coping with the loss of a loved one. Intense physical contact with water and being in an open environment provide deep sensory release and promote both physical and psychological relaxation. For specialists, this method is of interest as an example of how emotional pain can be processed through bodily experience.
The Healing Power of Nature in Hospice and Palliative Care on ehospice: https://ehospice.com/canada_english_posts/reconnecting-at-the-end-the-healing-power-of-nature-in-hospice-and-palliative-care/
ehospice article on the SAGE study: https://ehospice.com/uk_posts/new-research-investigates-if-sounds-of-nature-improve-wellbeing-of-care-home-residents/
SAGE Project website: https://sageproject.co.uk/
ehospice article on ‘wild swimming’: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/wild-swimming-and-grief/
Original source—Part of Life portal: https://www.partoflife.org/
Nature is increasingly recognised in palliative care not merely as a pleasant addition but as a proven source of psychological wellbeing and a resource for pain management.
An article by Canadian doctor Owen Wiseman emphasises that reconnecting with nature at the end of life helps patients regain a sense of connection with the world. Building on this idea, the British SAGE project (Sound, Environment and Ageing), led by Professor Abigail Gardner, examines the impact of ‘green acoustics’ on residents of hospices and care homes. Preliminary results show that immersive soundscapes (such as the sounds of a waterfall, birdsong, and the sea) can significantly reduce anxiety and improve the mental state of people with limited mobility, effectively ‘erasing’ the walls of the wards.
While sound technologies help patients reconnect with nature, the Part of Life project addresses the needs of those who are grieving. The practice of ‘wild swimming’ is increasingly popular as a form of self-help for those coping with the loss of a loved one. Intense physical contact with water and being in an open environment provide deep sensory release and promote both physical and psychological relaxation. For specialists, this method is of interest as an example of how emotional pain can be processed through bodily experience.
The Healing Power of Nature in Hospice and Palliative Care on ehospice: https://ehospice.com/canada_english_posts/reconnecting-at-the-end-the-healing-power-of-nature-in-hospice-and-palliative-care/
ehospice article on the SAGE study: https://ehospice.com/uk_posts/new-research-investigates-if-sounds-of-nature-improve-wellbeing-of-care-home-residents/
SAGE Project website: https://sageproject.co.uk/
ehospice article on ‘wild swimming’: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/wild-swimming-and-grief/
Original source—Part of Life portal: https://www.partoflife.org/
The Role of Rituals: From New Zealand to Ireland
Cultural traditions play a key role in shaping psychological wellbeing, providing time-tested ways to navigate grief.
The ‘Poroporoaki’ tradition of the Māori people in New Zealand is a formal, solemn ritual for addressing the deceased (tūpāpaku), allowing everyone to openly express their feelings, offer thanks, or seek forgiveness. In palliative care, this experience provides a supportive ‘space’ for expressing grief, helping participants begin their bereavement journey.
Another tradition comes from the opposite side of the world. In his book My Father’s Wake, Kevin Toolis reflects on what the world can learn from the Irish ritual of bidding farewell to the departed. In contrast to the tendency to ‘hide’ death, the Irish wake brings it back to the heart of the community. It is not merely mourning, but a social act of unity, in which presence at the body, storytelling, and even laughter help loved ones accept the reality of loss. Such traditions remind us that openness in the face of death makes us more human and less alone in our sorrow.
ehospice article featuring staff from North Haven Hospice in Whangārei, New Zealand, discussing the ‘Poroporoaki’ tradition: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/poroporoaki-a-formal-ritual-of-farewell-for-tupapaku-the-deceased/
ehospice material on My Father’s Wake by Kevin Toolis, with a link to the original source: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/how-the-irish-teach-us-to-die-kevin-toolis/
Cultural traditions play a key role in shaping psychological wellbeing, providing time-tested ways to navigate grief.
The ‘Poroporoaki’ tradition of the Māori people in New Zealand is a formal, solemn ritual for addressing the deceased (tūpāpaku), allowing everyone to openly express their feelings, offer thanks, or seek forgiveness. In palliative care, this experience provides a supportive ‘space’ for expressing grief, helping participants begin their bereavement journey.
Another tradition comes from the opposite side of the world. In his book My Father’s Wake, Kevin Toolis reflects on what the world can learn from the Irish ritual of bidding farewell to the departed. In contrast to the tendency to ‘hide’ death, the Irish wake brings it back to the heart of the community. It is not merely mourning, but a social act of unity, in which presence at the body, storytelling, and even laughter help loved ones accept the reality of loss. Such traditions remind us that openness in the face of death makes us more human and less alone in our sorrow.
ehospice article featuring staff from North Haven Hospice in Whangārei, New Zealand, discussing the ‘Poroporoaki’ tradition: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/poroporoaki-a-formal-ritual-of-farewell-for-tupapaku-the-deceased/
ehospice material on My Father’s Wake by Kevin Toolis, with a link to the original source: https://ehospice.com/editorial_posts/how-the-irish-teach-us-to-die-kevin-toolis/
Gratitude as a Building Block of the Foundation of Palliative Care
An interactive report prepared by the ATLANTES research group explores the deep connection between gratitude and the quality of palliative care. Gratitude is presented here as a tool for meaning-making. For patients, it offers a way to shift focus from pain and loss to the value of lived experience; for healthcare professionals, it is an important factor in preventing burnout, helping them recognise the impact of their work even in the most challenging clinical situations.
Expanding on this idea, I would also like to highlight an article by Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch, which reviews research showing that gratitude can influence physiological wellbeing by reducing stress, improving sleep, and, according to some findings, even contributing to longevity. Gratitude provides a strong foundation for psychological wellbeing, one that remains accessible to individuals until the very end of life.
ehospice article featuring links to the interactive report on gratitude and palliative care (available in English and Spanish) and to the original source: https://ehospice.com/international_posts/new-interactive-pdf-on-gratitude-and-palliative-care-available-in-english-and-spanish/
Maureen Salamon’s article on the Harvard Health Publishing portal: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-health-brings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071
An interactive report prepared by the ATLANTES research group explores the deep connection between gratitude and the quality of palliative care. Gratitude is presented here as a tool for meaning-making. For patients, it offers a way to shift focus from pain and loss to the value of lived experience; for healthcare professionals, it is an important factor in preventing burnout, helping them recognise the impact of their work even in the most challenging clinical situations.
Expanding on this idea, I would also like to highlight an article by Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch, which reviews research showing that gratitude can influence physiological wellbeing by reducing stress, improving sleep, and, according to some findings, even contributing to longevity. Gratitude provides a strong foundation for psychological wellbeing, one that remains accessible to individuals until the very end of life.
ehospice article featuring links to the interactive report on gratitude and palliative care (available in English and Spanish) and to the original source: https://ehospice.com/international_posts/new-interactive-pdf-on-gratitude-and-palliative-care-available-in-english-and-spanish/
Maureen Salamon’s article on the Harvard Health Publishing portal: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-health-brings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071
DIGEST