In implementing the project, we wanted to respond to the urgent needs of those involved in caring for the seriously and terminally ill - both formal and informal caregivers, as well as families and the patients themselves. Our goal was to create the conditions for informed, empathetic and professional support for people at the end of life and to increase public sensitivity to the dying process. We believe that openness to the subject of death, understanding of emotions and the ability to communicate are crucial for dignified accompaniment in the last moments of life. We developed training scenarios and validation tools as a foundation for further education and professionalization. We aimed to increase the emotional and social competence of caregivers, fill the educational gap in thanatopedagogy, promote a holistic approach to the needs of patients and their caregivers, and educate paraprofessionals. We also aimed to create tools for formal and non-formal education and to initiate social change, leading to greater awareness and understanding of the process of passing away.
We applied for the project to address significant gaps in the preparation of caregivers and those who support them in their work with seriously and terminally ill people. The goal was to develop their emotional and social competencies, which are necessary in the face of the challenges of caring for people at the end of life. We noticed a lack of didactic scenarios in the field of thanatopedagogy in the Polish education system, despite the fact that the topics of death and bereavement are extremely important. The project promoted a holistic approach, encompassing the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of care. It also responded to the growing need to educate paraprofessionals - people without full medical training, but who support the care of the aging population. We developed scenarios for teaching basic caregiving skills and tools for their verification, designed for formal and non-formal education. Through international cooperation, we created a method that takes into account environmental and social factors, making it a universal tool to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.