IRISH HOSPICE FOUNDATION
When the IHF was set up in 1986, the focus was to raise funds for specific hospice services. Today it fosters developments in hospice/palliative care through a range of activities in the areas of advocacy/communications, capacity-building and fundraising.
The Foundation’s vision is that no one should face death or bereavement without appropriate care and support, and its mission is to enable dignity and comfort at the end of life in all care settings.
There is a strong collaboration with service providers, statutory and non-statutory bodies, local voluntary hospice groups and other organisations to promote the development of hospice services countrywide.
- Ensuring the development of a comprehensive hospice/palliative care service countrywide (lobbying efforts).
- Supporting the development of palliative care services for children with (working with the HSE).
- Extending palliative care services to people with illnesses other than cancer (working with the HSE).
- Improving the culture and care regarding dying, death and bereavement in our hospitals (Hospice-friendly Hospitals Programme).
- Enhancing the end-of-life care in different care settings such as nursing homes (HfH Programme, Extending Access programme and education work).
- Supporting carers of the dying (extending access programme).
- Developing a dialogue on End of Life in Ireland (Forum on End of Life in Ireland).
- To develop and demonstrate models for supporting families and bereaved families in ways most appropriate to their needs (National Education and Bereavement Resource Centre).
- To promote education and practice programmes in palliative care in a range of settings including nursing homes and residential settings.