Is Everyone a “Loved One”?

Published on: Author: John MacArtney Leave a comment

How many times have you used or seen the term “loved one” this week? If you work in healthcare or the service sector, there’s a good chance it is quite a few. Have you ever stopped to think what is meant by it, its limitations or if you use it how it might be received?… Continue reading

‘Dying in the Margins’: From Study Findings to Policy Changes

Published on: Author: samquinn Leave a comment

In March 2024, the summative findings paper for the ESRC-funded ‘Dying in the Margins’ study was published in Social Science & Medicine – Qualitative Research in Health. Our visual methods study shed light on the challenges of home dying in the context of financial hardship and deprivation in the UK. Utilising photovoice, professional documentary photography… Continue reading

Celebrating the First Decade of the End of Life Studies Group Blog

Published on: Author: David Clark Leave a comment

Tempus fugit. It is now 10 years exactly since the first post appeared on this blog, setting out a new agenda for social science research at the University of Glasgow.  The decade milestone brings a good moment for a little reflection, and also for a look forward.  In March 2014, I’d just had confirmation of success… Continue reading

The End-of-Life Doula International Research Group: Genesis of a Global Network

Published on: Author: Marian Krawczyk 1 Comment

End-of-life doulas offer non-medical supports, guidance, and comfort for people with advancing serious illness, including those close to them. They have been gaining a lot of attention from the public, media, and health care systems as our previous ideas and traditions of care for dying, death, and bereavement continue to shift within the 21st century.… Continue reading

A Mexican Translation of Death Café: “Café con Catrina”

Published on: Author: Naomi Richards Leave a comment

This blog was written by Gina Tarditi, one of the first graduates from our MSc in End of Life Studies. On October 25th 2023, the Center for Palliative Care of Mexico organized the first “Café con Catrina” in Mexico City, which 28 people attended. The meeting was inspired by Death Café and Death Over Dinner. Both these movements,… Continue reading

Another Day in Paradise and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Two Prompts for Contemplating Death as an 11-Year Old Child

Published on: Author: Naomi Richards 2 Comments

The first half of this blog was written by Simon Dewhurst, who works in the facilities team at the School of Social and Environmental Sustainability. The second half is written by Dr Marian Krawczyk, Lecturer and programme lead for the End of Life Studies PGCert/PGDip/MSc. The genesis of the blog was a serendipitous conversation between… Continue reading

New Digital Story for Dying in the Margins: Frank’s Story

Published on: Author: samquinn 2 Comments

To coincide with the display of the ‘Cost of Dying’ exhibition at the Scottish Parliament (14th – 16th November 2023), we present our final digital story; “Frank’s Story”. Key themes in Frank’s story are the physical inaccessibility of the home affecting care provision, financial struggles in caring for a terminally ill family member, and the… Continue reading

Dying in the Margins: Joost ten Wolde on his wife Stacey O’Brien’s end of life experiences

Published on: Author: samquinn 2 Comments
Stacey sits on her bed looking towards the camera.

This blog is written by Joost ten Wolde My wife, Stacey O’Brien, had a TP53 genetic fault; a condition which increases a person’s risk of getting cancer by almost 100%. This gene is linked to many different kinds of cancers. Stacey had cancer nine times in total: sarcoma in the leg, breast, lymph nodes, back,… Continue reading