Activity Report of the Kyoto Hospice and Palliative Care Unit Liaison Committee: Regional Palliative Care Cooperation Developed from Face-to-Face Relationships

To improve the quality of palliative care in the Kyoto region, we thought that closely connecting hospice and palliative care units (PCU) is necessary. Subsequently, we established the Kyoto PCU Liaison Committee in September 2017. This committee was created as a place to casually discuss the problems that individual PCU facilities have, deliberate on their worries together, grow and develop, and support newly launched facilities. Furthermore, discussions were held on current topics (emergency hospitalization, blood transfusion, smoking, bereaved family meetings, etc.) at the liaison meetings. While meetings were adjourned in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to exchange opinions on infection control, PCU management, etc., using the email network at first. Later, these meetings resumed via web conference systems. Thus, by having face-to-face relationships on a daily basis, we were able to maintain cooperation between PCUs even during the pandemic, and collaborate with cancer treatment hospitals. Overall, by forming a team of PCUs in Kyoto Prefecture, we aim to enable patients and their families to live with peace of mind wherever they are.

Volunteer Activities at the Hospice of Japan Baptist Hospital: Modified Volunteer Activities Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

At the Japan Baptist Hospital, approximately 70 volunteers are working mainly in hospice. Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in February 2020, volunteer activities were suspended or severely curtailed at most hospices/palliative care units in Japan. We have been attempting to determine how to continue the volunteer activities, that are indispensable to the hospice care team approach. For example, volunteers’ artworks and potted plants provided patients with the opportunity to participate in seasonal events and feel socially connected without meeting in person. Additionally, we skillfully used web resources, that allowed us to hold staff meetings and bereavement meetings during the pandemic. The hospice staff participated in hospital COVID-19 countermeasure meetings to share and provide the importance of presence of volunteers for the best care of patients throughout the hospital. The “Guideline for Volunteer Activities According to the COVID-19 Outbreak Levels” was initiated in conjunction with the hospital’s infection control team to allow us to continue volunteer activities without spreading the infection.

The Farewell Prayer Gathering Held by the Chaplain after a Patients’ Death in Our Inpatient Hospice at the Japan Baptist Hospital: An Evaluation by Bereaved Families Using a Questionnaire Survey

Purpose: Our purpose is to report an actual performance of our farewell prayer gathering held by the chaplain in our inpatient hospice at the Japan Baptist Hospital, and to describe what impressions and thoughts the bereaved families had about our farewell prayer gathering. Method: The questionnaires were sent to 84 patients’ families asking about our farewell prayer gathering. We analyzed the content of their comments. Results: Among the 40 families that responded, 15 families experienced our farewell prayer gathering. The words such as “prayer” and “participation of the staff” were mentioned as the favored experiences. The bereaved families felt “an emotional closure”, “peace of mind”, and “healing of mind and body”. They also found the gathering as “an opportunity to look back” and “special memorable moment”. Discussion: Our farewell prayer gathering is likely to be helpful for the bereaved to give peace to their mind and to reduce feelings of loss. By sharing the voices of bereaved families, it will be helpful for the betterment of grief care to future bereaved families in hospice care. We would like to see further research in the future.