Introducing the Whare Tapa Whā Older Person’s Palliative Care Model

May 27 2020

A new paper led by Tess (with Aileen, Janine, Lisa, Stella and Merryn) presents the Whare Tapa Whā Older Person’s Palliative Care model, informed by findings from our Te Pakeketanga Study. Tess, Stella and Lisa conducted semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 58 people (19 Māori and 39 non-Māori), who cared for 52 family members who died aged over 80 years. A Kaupapa Māori thematic analysis of family/whānau perspectives identified examples of good holistic end of life care, as well as barriers to good care.

Good health care was regarded by participants as that which was profoundly relationship-oriented and upheld the older person’s mana (authority, status, spiritual power) across four critical health domains: Whānau (social/family), Hinengaro (emotional/mental), Wairua (spiritual) and Tinana (physical) health domains. However, poor health care on one level impacted on all four domains affecting (reducing) mana (status).

“The “indigenous” model was applicable to both indigenous and non-indigenous experiences of end of life care for those in advanced age. This indicates how indigenous perspectives could potentially guide and inform end of life care for all.”

For a copy of the full text of the paper, as ever, please contact us: m.gott@auckland.ac.nz