Description
The majority of the Czech society never speaks about the end-of-life matters. Talking about dying and death is something we feel uncomfortable about, but it is something we all need to do - otherwise we may not die in the way we want. Our research shows that around 76% of people would prefer to die at home, yet around the same number dies in hospital. Dying persons are not perceived as a traditional minority; nevertheless they represent a vulnerable group of society whose rights are often violated, e.g. right to information and right to privacy are often not respected and they are often stripped of all their dignity. The project's main objective is to improve the availability of relevant information and thus encourage the changes of Czech society´s attitude towards the-end-of life matters and palliative care. Within the project we will work with health practitioners, the general public as well as regional initiatives interested in sharing experiences in providing end-of-life care.
Summary of project results
Although more than 80% of Czech citizens would like to die at home, an overwhelming majority of them die in hospitals or other institutions, separated from their loved ones, frequently in conditions lacking dignity and without adequate care. The project was trying to support activities that had lead to changes in medical education on all professional levels and to the public discussion on paliative care and its possible introduction into public health insurance system. Especially the activity focused on comparison of European palliative care models is considered as one of the fundamental arguments for the implementation of palliative home care into public insurance system. The project also contributed to the extention of Free Consultation Services opening hours. Thanks to this, we could support more then 3500 people in difficult life situation. Activities directed on medical staff, addressed more then 290 medical practitioners and other medical staff members. We know from our own experience that the doctors and medics incline towards better communication with terminally ill patients and would like to help them in a palliative way, nevertheless they lack appropriate information and very often are uncertain in bad news delivering. The lectures given during the project were aiming to support the medical staff and to give it information on palliative mobile care alternative. There had been two concerts for general public taking place in La Fabrika concert hall. The concerts were visited by more then 600 people together.
Summary of bilateral results