“Magic Happens Here”: Environmental Serenity in Residential Hospice Care

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the unique interaction between the care that is provided in and the environmental features of hospice residences. Interviews with 40 professionals from eight hospice residences focused on elements of care. Visual content analysis was conducted with 187 photographs of internal and external environments. Three themes illuminated residential care as (a) patient-family-centered, (b) flexible, and (c) comfort-focused. Six environmental features are described as (a) site and context, (b) nature connectivity, (c) arrival spaces, (d) communal spaces, (e) private spaces, and (f) transitional spaces. The interaction between residential care and the environmental features creates environmental serenity.

Keywords:

• Hospice house
• end-of-life care
• patient-family centered care

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the generosity, hospitality, and participation of Hospice Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Hospicare, Ithaca, NY; Lifetime Hospice, Rochester, NY; Hospice of the Suncoast, Woodside, Clearwater, FL; and Tidewell Hospice, Sarasota, Bradenton, and Englewood, FL. Additionally, the authors thank Hospice Buffalo for sharing the photographic images that illustrate the environmental features of residential hospice care found in all of the participating hospice facilities.