Volume 27, Issue 4 p. 328-335
SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLE

Living, loving, dying: Insights into rural compassion

Pauline Marsh RN, BA (Hons), Grad Dip (Nursing), PhD

Corresponding Author

Pauline Marsh RN, BA (Hons), Grad Dip (Nursing), PhD

Centre for Rural Health, UTas, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Correspondence

Pauline Marsh, Centre for Rural Health, UTas, Hobart, TAS, Australia.

Email: pauline.marsh@utas.edu.au

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Stephanie Thompson BMus, Grad Dip (Psychology), MSc, PhD

Stephanie Thompson BMus, Grad Dip (Psychology), MSc, PhD

Centre for Rural Health, UTas, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

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Jonathan Mond BA (Hons), MA (Hons), PhD, MPH

Jonathan Mond BA (Hons), MA (Hons), PhD, MPH

Centre for Rural Health, UTas, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

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First published: 26 June 2019
Citations: 5
We use the term supererogation in this paper to refer to acts which might be considered additional to essential tasks.

Abstract

Objective

To improve understandings of the enablers and barriers to maintaining good quality of life for people dying, caring and grieving in rural areas.

Design and setting

In-depth interviews designed on participatory research principles were held with bereaved carers living in a small community in rural Tasmania. Participants had cared for someone until their death within the 3-year period prior.

Participants

Nineteen participants comprising 18 bereaved former carers and one person with a life-limiting illness, and all but four were over retirement age.

Study aim

To explore experiences of end-of-life care in a rural community.

Results

Participants discussed the challenges they experienced during end-of-life caring, including transport into the city for treatment, and access to basic and specialised services. However, they also reported positive aspects of formal and informal palliative care, and described experiences of personable, expert, flexible and innovative caregiving.

Conclusions

The rural location enabled personalised and innovative expressions of care. This research adds new insight into rural end-of-life palliation, as a complex intersection of supererogation, innovation and place-driven care.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.