If you knew death was close, would it change your priorities for the time you had left?
When does ‘care’ become ‘palliative care’?
Is there a difference between caring ‘about’ someone, and caring ‘for’ someone?
Is caring a burden? Is caring a privilege? Can it be both?
The exhibition you have just viewed paints part of a picture of what is sometimes called ‘palliative care’.
Palliative care encompasses not just care of an individual, but also the support of their family and those important to them, throughout illness, dying, death and bereavement.
Palliative care can be given in any place - a hospital ward, a care home, a hospice, at home, at school or arguably even in a taxi. Palliative care can become relevant for someone regardless of their age, and can be equally important for someone whether they have dementia, frailty, cancer, organ failure, a neurological condition, or have become frail with old age.
Many of us think of ‘palliative care’ as being provided by doctors, nurses, and other professionals, but care from sons, daughters, spouse, neighbours, and others are an equally important part of the story. Everyone in the village can play a role.
Palliative care is not synonymous with death – it is about life, about the care of someone who is alive, someone who still has hours, days, months, or years remaining in their life, and about supporting them to live well until they die.
We invite you to share with us any reactions, reflections and thoughts prompted by this exhibition.
