Compassionate communities – a modern form of organising palliative care

Abstract

The article describes a new approach to creating public policies in health and social care, especially directed to people in severe health crisis. Compassionate communities provide care through an adequately managed network of people and institutions in a specific community. The community mobilises its own resources to ensure the best possible care for its own members. This model can reduce the burden of traditional health care providers, who can play a significant role as a coordination centre (not only as care providers). To create a compassionate community, educational institutions are also needed in order to deliver adjusted knowledge management. The compassionate model represents what we call modern palliative care based on interdisciplinary cooperation with a great contribution of social engagement.