End-of-life Care in the Prison Environment #29 (April 26) Highlights Compiled by Barry R. Ashpole

Following are selected articles, reports, etc., from the latest (April) posting on the End-of-Life Care Behind Bars website. Access the monthly postings at: https://bit.ly/47sVCRU

“Emerging from the shadows”: Motivations of prison  end-of-life peer volunteers from advocates’ perspectives

International Journal of Care & Caring (U.S.) | Online – 6 April 2026 – This article examines how advocates construct narratives about incarcerated volunteers’ participation in end-of-life (EoL) programs, including themes of compassion, atonement, inclusion, and humanity. Findings suggest that while peer volunteers provide unique forms of care that professional staff often cannot, such as fostering trust, sitting vigil, and reducing suffering, the data reflect advocates’ perspectives rather than direct accounts from volunteers themselves. The article acknowledges this limitation and situates the findings as interpretations of volunteers’ presumed motivations and the broader dynamics of care in correctional settings. Recommendations for policy, practice, and research are discussed, emphasizing the importance of peer-caregiving programs in enhancing humane and dignified EoL care in prisons. Abstract: https://bit.ly/47FBIEf

Illinois plan could create Illinois Department of Corrections’ end-of-life peer support program

WAND TV NEWS (U.S.) | Online – 27 March 2026 – A new bill … could create an end-of-life care (EoLC) peer support program within the Illinois Department of Corrections. Sponsors and advocates said peer-to-peer hospice programs can provide an opportunity for penance for past offenses through service to others and healthy coping mechanisms for feelings of loss and grief. This bill [would ensure] access to basic comfort measures, things like blankets, music, books and increased opportunities for human connection and connection with loved ones within those same security parameters… A limited number of Illinois prisons have already started peer-to-peer programs, but the services are not available for incarcerated women. “Right now, a terminally ill [prison inmate] isn’t receiving any form of true EoLC,” said Yosef Moore, diversion and reentry policy analyst… “No one is attending to their mental, emotional, or spiritual needs. Instead, a human being is left to die alone.” Full text: https://bit.ly/41xvgLQ

Beyond bars: Evaluating end-of-life care and surrogate decision-making for hospitalized incarcerated persons

JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE (U.S.) | Online – 11 March 2026 – The authors present two cases of hospitalized incarcerated persons (IPs) with life-limiting illnesses who experienced significant barriers in identifying and engaging surrogates. Both cases underscore the effect of delays in communication with surrogates and restricted end-of-life (EoL) visitation due to correctional policies. These delays limited the delivery of optimal interdisciplinary PC and bereavement support. Despite clear legal guidance under the Tennessee Health Care Decisions Act, misinformation and procedural ambiguity among medical and correctional staff impeded timely and appropriate care. The author’s findings highlight the need for improved institutional policies and training to ensure IPs receive adequate EoL care. Enhanced awareness of legal frameworks, clearer surrogate identification protocols, and collaboration between healthcare and correctional systems are essential to upholding the rights and dignity of IPs… Full text: https://bit.ly/4b7fVaD

How many prisoners were moved into a hospice in each of the past five years?

UK PARLIAMENT | Online – 11 March 2026 – In response to the question in the House of Lords from the Bishop of Gloucester, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Health & Social Care responded: “As the majority of hospices are independent charitable organisations, neither the Government nor National Health Service (NHS) England collect or hold their data, including information on how many prisoners have been moved into a hospice (see sidebar). Whilst the majority of palliative care and end-of-life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end of life and their loved ones. Hospices operate as autonomous bodies, managing their own funding structures and the provision of their services. This autonomy allows them to maintain their independence and offer services beyond the statutory NHS offer.” https://bit.ly/40MDpvQ

N.B. Results from a 2020 survey of Hospice UK’s membership show that 24 hospices work with 21 prisons across England. From providing on-demand advice to prison clinicians, to directly caring for patients on the prison estate and in hospice inpatient units, the breadth of work conducted is far-reaching. Download survey at: https://bit.ly/3PEwuT1

Risking love: Hospice, palliative care, and humanity behind bars

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE NURSES ASSOCIATION (U.S.) | Online – 2 March 2026 – The Humane Prison Hospice Project is developing a humanitarian, cost-effective, and transformative solution to ensure those aging and dying in prison receive compassionate care. Since 2017, the Project has worked to ensure incarcerated individuals receive compassionate end-of-life care from trained peers. It implements a comprehensive 80-hour, 15-module curriculum to train incarcerated individuals as peer caregivers, equipping them with the skills to provide hands-on care and emotional support to their aging and terminally ill peers. The Project has trained over 150 peer caregivers across California prisons, and are bringing its programming to three states – Michigan, Washington, and Oregon – marking the first step toward national replication. Summary: https://bit.ly/4lyhx0C

Palliative Care in Prisons Project

Co-designing a national framework for the provision of palliative care in Australian prisons

FUTURE JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS SUMMIT | Online – 26 March 2026 – Delivering palliative care (PC) in Australian prisons is complex due to intersecting health, justice, and human rights issues, and the growing number of older prisoners with chronic illnesses. A six-year national co-design project engaged correctional staff, health providers, policymakers, First Nations representatives, and people with lived experience to create an equitable, culturally safe PC framework. The resulting national framework emphasizes trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, continuity of services, and compassionate release, aiming to make PC a core part of prison health across Australia. Abstract: https://bit.ly/3NYifId

N.B. Palliative Care in Prisons Project website: https://bit.ly/47XCZXf

‘Release elderly and infirm prisoners,’ says major report

INSIDE TIME (U.K.) | Online – 9 March 2026 – Elderly prisoners who need help with daily tasks like washing or getting dressed, or who suffer from general ill health associated with old age, should be released from jail early…¹ They would be released on “compassionate grounds,” a rarely-used option which is currently only available to terminally-ill prisoners who have just a few months left to live. The recommendation came from the Scottish Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission, which published its final report in February after it was tasked by the Scottish Government with finding ways to reduce the country’s record prison population. The report said: “We recommend that those who are elderly, dying or suffering dementia (as well as potential additional illnesses) should be considered for removal from prison on compassionate grounds” (see sidebar). The Scottish Prison Service offered tentative support for the recommendation. Full text: https://bit.ly/4b1GApq

1. ‘Justice That Works: Report of the Scottish Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission’ (February 2026). Download report at:https://bit.ly/40SONpP

Supporting grief behind bars

PRISON FELLOWSHIP (U.K.) | Online – 19 March 2026 – Prison Fellowship has been working in partnership with AtaLoss to pilot The Bereavement Journey in prisons across England – and the results are encouraging.¹ AtaLoss has published findings from the 2025 pilot, which was delivered across seven prisons in England and Scotland. In England, the programme was delivered in partnership with Prison Fellowship; in Scotland, with prison chaplaincy teams. The findings indicate that the programme can offer people in prison a safe and constructive way to process loss, potentially supporting relational stability, custodial progression and factors associated with desistance from crime. Bereavement is a significant yet often hidden challenge in prisons. Those who enter custody are disproportionately likely to have experienced parental loss, traumatic bereavements and disrupted family networks – and many are bereaved again while serving their sentence, with limited privacy and separation from support. Full text:https://bit.ly/4uLtW5K

1. ‘The Bereavement Journey,’ AtaLoss (March 2026): https://bit.ly/46WeA3T

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Barry R. Ashpole, Ontario, CANADA                                   Biosketch: https://bit.ly/3XMTRs4

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Lead Photo:   About Time https://bit.ly/4bx4R79