This research explored what was important for the person and family receiving care, and what was of importance to the health professionals providing care at the end-of-life. Using a phenomenological methodology, this research incorporated unstructured audio taped interviews with people receiving care, their family members, the bereaved, and members of the interprofessional teams delivering care.  The process of being open to the direction participants wanted to journey through this research invited a co-constructed method of engagement.  

The outcome of the research revealed the lived experience of silence in end-of-life care, incorporating the themes:

 

Silence is a complex phenomenon, with implications on how to ‘be with’ another in the final acts of living.  It is a powerful and helpful form of communication and compassionate, supportive companionship.  It is person-centred and can convey meaning when there are no easy answers.  For health care professionals to be effective with the art and science of silence we must be comfortable in silence ourselves.  Our caring intention begins with the self and ripples out to colleagues and supports compassionate communities of care.

 

This research reconnected with the history of caring for the dying in our community and with some of the ancient wisdoms about silence, offering insights from the past that may support the path to our future.