Compassionate communities refers to a public health approach to end of life care whereby death and dying is seen not just as a medical issue, but a social issue. It aims to enable all of us to live and well within our communities to the very end of our lives.
Think about it
End of life and bereavement care is a normal part of society
Good end of life care involves us all
Everyone has a role to play
Talk about it
Act on it
What does "compassionate" mean to you ?
Compassionate communities are at work everyday and there are many stories to tell.
Click here if you would like to read some short stories from our community,
Perhaps you have your own stories to share with others ?
Local
This is a relatively new concept in New Zealand.
North Haven Hospice is a champion of Compassionate Communities in our area.
Our Vision is to to help grow “compassionate communities that work together supporting people to live and die well”.
International
Milford Care Centre, Ireland, has been championing Compassionate Communities for a number of years. You can find more information and also read about ‘Bills Story’ and a Good Neighbour Project’ by visiting their website: www.compassionatecommunities.ie
For some practical examples of community efforts in Canada visit: http://pallium.ca/cc.
Groundswell Australia describes what is happening in Australia. Their mission goes to the heart of what a compassionate community is about:
”We want to live in a world where every person, every family and every community knows what to do when someone is dying or grieving”.