Honoring Values in End-of-Life Care

Thinking about death and dying makes many people uncomfortable, even afraid. We don’t like to think about our own death, nor the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, when it comes to serious illness, there are real limits to what modern medicine can do. Sometimes the illness can’t be cured, and the patient will eventually die from it.

There is a special way to care for people who are dying. It’s called “hospice”. Hospice is care that focuses on keeping the patient comfortable and free from pain, with family present and involved in that care. Hospice gives patients and their families a safe, caring way to experience the end of a life. By respecting and incorporating family and cultural traditions, the patient’s final days are lived with honor, dignity and comfort in accordance with their beliefs, surrounded by loved ones.

In 2014, Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care formed a community partnership with ECHO, SoLaHmo, and West Side Community Health Services.  Together the partnership is working to increase awareness about the values that impact the choices individuals and families make at the end of life and to introduce hospice care as an important option. These digital shorts are a result of this collaboration.

This project was funded through support by F.R. Bigelow Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation, UCare Foundation and pending funding from Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Click here to download the Consumer's Guide, "Choosing Hospice." (PDF File)

Hospice Radio Stories:

These poignant radio stories reflect individuals and families' intimate experiences with hospice care in the United States.  Featuring the experiences of families from Hmong, Somali and Latino communities in Minnesota, these stories highlight some of the challenges that these families face at end of life and the role quality hospice care can play in offering individuals and their family peace and comfort in their final months.  Produced by the Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care (MNHPC).  

Click here to listen to Layla's story - Somali Story in Somali

Click here to listen to Layla's story - Somali Story in English

Click here to listen to Lucinda's story - Latino Story in Spanish

Click here to listen to Lucinda's story - Latino Story in English

Click here to listen to Pa's story - Hmong Story in Hmong

Click here to listen to Pa's story - Hmong Story in English

Learn more about hospice care in this ECHO-TPT co-production, available in Spanish, Hmong, Somali and English.

 

Keywords: 
hospice care, elderly, sick, ill, end-of-life, hospice, terminal illness, death