Learn the history of the hospice movement in the US from one of the original founders.
My guest Dr. Robert Buckingham is a Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the University of Michigan and has been a pioneer of the U.S. hospice movement, having played a role in the founding of the very first hospice program in this country. In addition he has co-developed 81 hospice programs across the globe including the firs hospice for children with AIDS in Thailand. He is the author of 12 books – 7 dedicated solely to hospice and palliative care. His latest book is Understanding Loss and Grief for Women. Learn more at his website:
This episode includes:
- The birth of hospice in America
- Current threats to the hospice movement
- Dr. Buckingham’s involvement in developing hospice programs around the world
- The historical philosophy of hospice care
- The benefits of providing hands-on care to a loved one at the end of life
- How the AIDS crisis helped fuel the growth of the hospice movement
- Lessons learned from dying patients
- Why he wrote about loss and grief for women and why we need to make sure we include men in grief work
- Remembering that change takes time and taking the long view on our work
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