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STUDIES & MANUALS

 

Essential Elements of an Effective Prison Hospice Program

As the number of prison inmates facing end-stage chronic illness grows, more prisons across the U.S. must address the need for end-of-life care. Many will likely need to develop a plan with potentially limited resources and external support. This case study presents one long-running model of care, the Louisiana State Penitentiary Prison Hospice Program. Based on field observations and in-depth interviews with hospice staff, inmate volunteers and corrections officers, we identify five essential elements that have contributed to the long-term operation of this program: patient-centered care, an inmate volunteer model, safety and security, shared values, and teamwork. We describe key characteristics of each of these elements, discuss how they align with earlier recommendations and research, and show how their integration supports a sustained model of prison end-of-life care. (To view PDF, click on title above)

 

NOTE: If you have a study or a manual that relates directly to prison hospice, please think about sharing it with me [prisonterminal@yahoo.com] as a link or as an attachement. This way we can put together a comprehensive STUDIES & MANUALS page for prisons that are looking to jump-start their own hospice programs.