Caring for Dying Teaches Valuable LIfe Lessons

In a study published in the Canadian Medication Association Journal, researchers found that Canadian hospice care workers say their daily experience caring for dying patients has changed their personal lives in a positive way.  The Vancouver Sun  reported the studies in an article published Tuesday December 7.  Click here to see the full newspaper article.

The study looked at how people are shaped by exposure to death and after shadowing docotrs, nurses, assistants, spiritual-care workers and psychologistsin palliative care centeres in major Canadian cities, the researchers found that these health care professionals reported a better understanding of the meaning of life, an increased awareness of spirituality and an acknowledgement of their own mortality.

Lead researcher, Shane Sinclair, said many of the respondents in the study admitted to re-arranging priorities in their lives after learning from their dying patients that they wised they ad spent more time with family or focused on enjoying life instead of working.

Click here for the full article in the Canadian Medication Association Journal.