Abstract
The current systems of care for dying persons, the people caring for them, and the bereaved operate in ways that frequently lack sufficient sensitivity to their needs. We describe a new model for dying, death, and loss that adopts a public health approach. Specifically, we describe a deliberative process that resulted in a charter for a public health approach to dying, death, and loss. Modeled after the World Health Organization's 1986 Ottawa Charter, our charter includes a call to action. It has the potential to bring about significant change on local, societal, and global levels as exemplified by four projects from three countries. Public health and end-of-life services and organizations need to form partnerships with the community to develop a public health approach to dying, death, and loss. Learning from each other, they will affirm and enhance community beliefs and practices that make death part of life.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 401-420 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Omega: Journal of Death and Dying |
Volume | 69 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |