The International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person has joined forces with the European Association for Palliative Care to establish a new EAPC Task Force on Care for the Dying. With its unique focus on care in the last hours and days of life, this global initiative represents a remarkable synergy of expertise and shared vision in the field of palliative care. Task Force co- chairs Agnes van der Heide and John Ellershaw tell us more.
The EAPC Task Force on Care for the Dying is committed to acting as a catalyst for change in this important area, advocating for improved end of life care across Europe and beyond, through its delivery of research, quality improvement and education activities. At the heart of the Task Force’s mission lies the development of an EAPC White Paper on Care for the Dying, the purpose of which will be to increase awareness among healthcare professionals, policymakers, patients, their relatives and the public about the importance of providing high-quality care to individuals at the end of life. With a specific focus on the last hours and days of life, the paper will address physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of dying, as well as broader considerations, including cultural, societal and political factors. The White Paper will also act as a reference tool for clinicians, offering insights into symptom management, communication strategies, cultural considerations, and ethical dilemmas, empowering healthcare professionals to deliver more effective patient-centred care.
In promoting a shared understanding of the complex needs of dying patients and their families, the Task Force will encourage all those involved in caring and supporting patients, including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and psychologists, to work together to provide holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of end of life care. For people approaching the end of their lives, we hope that this global collaboration will make a profound impact on their journey by ensuring the availability of the highest quality of care, comfort, and support.
Overall, the impact of the EAPC Task Force on Care for the Dying lies in its potential to drive positive change in policies, clinical practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, caregiver support, research, and patient empowerment. By providing guidance and evidence-based recommendations in the form of a White Paper, it can contribute to improving the quality of end of life care and promoting a more compassionate and dignified experience for dying individuals and their loved ones.
If you would like to join the Task Force and contribute to its important work, please make contact with us here.
Links and resources
- Read more about the EAPC Care for the Dying Task Force.
- Learn more about EAPC task forces and reference groups here.
About the authors
Professor Agnes van der Heide is Professor of End of Life Care and Decision Making at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where her research focuses on clinical, epidemiological, ethical, organisational and legal aspects of palliative care and end-of-life decision making. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5584-4305.
Professor John Ellershaw is Professor of Palliative Medicine at the University of Liverpool, UK, where he leads the development of palliative care education and research. He is the founding Chair of the International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person, a group of leading thinkers, practitioners, and researchers from around the world united by the common goal of improving care for dying people and their families. Twitter: @careforthedying. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9789-3180.
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