Death, Dying, and Social Differences

Society has become increasingly diverse; multi-cultural, multi-faith and wide ranging in family structures. The wealthier are healthier and social inequalities are more pronounced. Respecting and working with the range of 'differences' among service users, families and communities in health and social care with ill, dying and bereaved people is a neglected area in the literature. As the principles of palliative and end of life care increasingly permeate the mainstream of health and social care services, it is important that professionals are sensitive and respond to the differing needs of individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs, abilities and sexual orientations, as well as to the different contexts and social environments in which people live and die. This book explores what underpins inequality, disadvantage and injustice in access to good end of life care. Increasingly clinicians, policy planners, and academics are concerned about inequity in service provision. Internationally, there is an increasing focus and sense of urgency both on delivering good care in all settings regardless of diagnosis, and on better meeting the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. National initiatives emphasise the importance of resolving disparities in care and harnessing empowered user voices to drive change. This newly expanded, fully revised second edition, with 11 new chapters, provides a comprehensive analysis of discrimination, difference and disadvantage in end of life care, and offers practical guidance for all who seek to support the equitable provision of good end of life care. Contains contributions from experienced clinicians and practitioners in their field Truly international perspectives mean that this book is applicable to a wide range of health and social care systems The book is in 2 parts: the first part containins eight chapters on analysis of the 'context', whilst the second part addresses specific issues relating to particular groups and communities Contains a foreword by Professor Lukas Radbruch, President of the European Association for Palliative Care, Germany, and an afterword by Professor Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for Cancer and End of Life Care, UK New to this edition 11 new chapters, on topics such as the emergence of new forms of dying in contemporary societies, communication, information and support, dying as a teenager or young person, substance abusers, people with dementia, and homeless people, amongst others All remaining chapters have undergone major revisions and been updated David Oliviere , Director of Education and Training, St Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham, London; Visiting Professor, Middlesex University, London, UK, Barbara Monroe , Chief Executive, St Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham, London; Honorary Professor, International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, and Sheila Payne , Director of the International Observatory on End of Life Care, and Help the Hospices Chair in Hospice Studies, Lancaster University, Lancaster; Director of the Cancer Experiences Collaborative, UK CONTENTS Part One 1: Barbara Monroe, David Oliviere, and Sheila Payne: Social differences - the challenge for palliative care 2: Glennys Howarth: The emergence of new forms of dying in contemporary societies 3: Barbara Hanratty and Louise Holmes: Social inequality in dying 4: Anthony C. Gatrell and Sheila Payne: Place and space: geographic perspectives on death and dying 5: May McCreaddie: Communication, information and support 6: Malcolm Payne: Poverty and finance 7: Heather Richardson and Jonathan Koffman: Embracing diversity at the end of life 8: Carol Thomas: Disability and the death and dying agenda Part Two 9: Caroline Nicholson and Jo Hockley: Death and dying in older people 10: Malcolm Payne: Vulnerable adults and families 11: Anne Grinyer: Dying as a teenager or young person 12: Irene Tuffrey-Winje: People with intellectual disabilities 13: Max Henderson and Annabel Price: Mental health needs 14: Murna Downs: People with dementia 15: Louise Jones: Homeless people 16: Regina McQuillan: Travellers' death and dying 17: Nigel G. J. Dodds: Asylum seekers and refugees 18: Chris Farnham: Palliative care for substance abusers 19: Kelli I. Stajduhar: Family carers and social difference 20: Katherine Cox: Sexual orientation 21: Mary Turner and Sheila Payne: Palliative care for prisoners 22: Orla Keegan: Bereavement - a world of difference Mike Richards: Afterword