Compassionate Communities in New Zealand

It brings people together to support each other through ageing, death, dying, caring, and grieving. It reminds us that end-of-life care isn’t just the role of health professionals – it’s everyone’s responsibility. There are now Compassionate City Charters, giving cities guiding principles to follow, and Compassionate Communities are emerging as an international model of public health.

Here in Aotearoa, this kaupapa is gaining momentum. Organisations like Honohono Tātou Katoa and Compassionate Communities Rotorua – Te Atawhai Aroha are already leading the way, showing what’s possible when communities step up to care for each other. It’s about bringing together health organisations, care providers and communities to all work together for better outcomes for those who are dying, grieving and caring for others.

More about compassionate communities…

I attended my first Compassionate Communities Hui last year and left wanting more! Not only were the programme and speakers engaging, I learned heaps, met some dedicated heart led people, discovered some fantastic kiwi product & service providers, heard a variety of differing perspectives on key end-of-life issues and was introduced to the concept of Compassionate Communities.

For those new to the concept, a compassionate community:

• Recognises that care for one another at times of crisis and loss is not simply a task solely for health and social services but is everyone’s responsibility
• Encourages, facilitates, supports and celebrates care for one another during life’s most testing moments and experiences, especially those pertaining to life-threatening and life-limiting illness, chronic disability, frail ageing and dementia, grief and bereavement, and the trials and burdens of long term care.

Sherie Sullivan, End-of-Life Doula, Sovereign Departures