The first question is - do hospices consider diversity and inclusion for end of life care? The quick answer is “absolutely”...and in many ways!
Hospices in the UK are some of the most diverse care providers in the world. We’re proud of the sheer amount of thought that goes into caring for people from all backgrounds. Here are just a few examples of how hospices always incorporate diversity and inclusion with end of life care, along with why it’s so vital…
Why is it so important for hospices to be as diverse and inclusive as possible?
By far the biggest advantage for patients and their families when it comes to inclusiveness is that their needs will be better understood by staff. Palliative care nurses are continuously trained on diversity and inclusiveness, so they can provide the very best care for patients. The idea is allpatients will be treated as individuals and with the utmost respect.
Another incredible advantage is that it opens up more opportunities for the local community to get involved. Promoting diversity and inclusivity can encourage more people and organisations to get involved with fundraising for hospices and spreading the word about them. This is good news for patients and their families, as they’ll have wider access to different services from religious needs to cultural needs.
We’re becoming more and more diverse as a country, as more and more people are willing to express themselves. This includes sexuality, religion, culture, financial background and much more...so hospices tend to do a fantastic job of reflecting the UK and being as inclusive as possible.
Not only is diversity and inclusiveness essential for patients and their families, the dedicated hospice staff also benefit! If a hospice has happy staff who feel safe and included...then they’re far more likely to give the very best quality of care to people (we’re not saying they don’t anyway! But it’s so important that hospices treat their staff with respect too :) ).
How do hospices promote diversity and inclusiveness?
Very good question! All hospices have a strategy put in place on howthey’re going to put their good intentions into action! Some examples might include:
- Working alongside spiritual and religious leaders in the local community to make sure they’re providing the right facilities for patients
- Training all staff to provide for the needs and wishes of people from all cultural and social backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ issues
- Strive to let the public know that care is free and is supported by the generosity of the community...so people know they can use the services no matter what their financial background
- Getting feedback from the wider community
As you can see, the word “community” is mentioned a lot! This is because a hospice that is community-focused will be better equipped to educate staff on a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. Some hospices may work with translators so patients can explain things in a language they’re more comfortable with.
Hospices are ever-evolving so there’s always more room to grow. But we’re confident that diversity and inclusiveness in hospices is set to get better and better with each year. After all, it’s absolutely essentialthat all patients, no matter their race, sexuality, religion or even the language they speak, feel 100% comfortable when it comes to end of life care.
At huunuu we’re champions of diversity and inclusivity. Our life plans and bucket lists are completely customisable - you can choose from our range of ideas or simply create your own.
