Third-wave public health? Compassion, community, and end-of-life care

Clinical approaches to end-of-life care often extend their practise into community care, but frequently that practise has been under-recognized and under-theorized. A seamless practise connection with community approaches to end-of-life care is crucial to a total healthcare response to death and loss. One-on-one practises find their greatest therapeutic and aftercare support in a complementary community approach to that care. What public health models might we adapt to assist the psychological professions to support a community response to death and loss? This article reviews recent World Health Organization (WHO) work in community development, in particular the “Healthy Cities” projects. From this review, a “Compassionate Cities” framework is suggested as one fruitful way forward to address issues of prevention, health promotion, and aftercare in a holistic approach to end-of-life care.