Palliative care & Caring communities

Our research focuses on terminally ill individuals, those with chronic illnesses, the very old, people with dementia, and their relatives. What unites them is their vulnerability and need for care; while their suffering cannot be cured, it can be alleviated. Through participatory research, we aim to promote social inclusion and reduce the stigma faced by those affected. End-of-life care raises important questions surrounding care ethics, equity, and gender equality. From a healthcare research perspective, our focus includes specialized hospice and palliative care, as well as routine care settings such as nursing homes, dementia care communities, hospitals, and home care. The challenges of terminal illness, dying, death, and mourning affect not only professional caregivers, but also family members, volunteers, and society at large. Our research supports models such as the caring community and dementia-friendly communities, which advocate for the democratization of care.

Publications (selection)

  • Heimerl, K., & Millius, S. (Eds.). (2024). Total Pain in der palliativen Geriatrie: Vom Umgang mit existenziellen Schmerzen im hohen Alter. Hogrefe.
  • Kojer, M., & Dressel, G. (2024). Palliative Geriatrie ist für mich Lebenssinn geworden: Marina Kojer im Gespräch mit Gert Dressel. hospizverlag.
  • Reitinger, E., Heimerl, K., Dressel, G., & Wenger, I. (Eds.). (2024). Schwer erreichbar? Soziale Teilhabe für verletzliche Menschen. hospizverlag.
  • Wrentschur, M., Dressel, G., Heimerl, K., Hofer, L., & Wegleitner, K. (2024). CareACT in communities: Theatre interventions for justice-oriented and participatory learning processes in caring communities. Educational Action Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2024.2439975
  • Wallner, M., Haselmayer, D., Nagl-Cupal, M., Eppel-Meichlinger, J., & Mayer, H. (2024). Building a programme theory of a specialist paediatric palliative and hospice care programme: development process and methodological reflection BMC Palliative Care, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01492-6
  • Pichler, B., Dressel, G., Hutter, E., Reitinger, E., & Heimerl, K. (2023). The Storytelling Café as a citizen science method: Generating knowledge, communication and education. Proceedings of Science (ACSC2023), 016. https://pos.sissa.it/442/016/pdf
  • Heimerl, K., Schuchter, P., Egger, B., Prieth, S., Lang, A., Kaelin, L., Frankus, E., Dinges, S., & Wegleiter, K. (2022). Dying is never beautiful but there are beautiful moments: Qualitative interviews with those affected about ‘good dying’. Mortality. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576275.2022.2034773
  • Lang, A., Frankus, E., & Heimerl, K. (2022). The perspective of professional caregivers working outside specialised palliative and hospice care on ‘good dying’: An integrative review. Social Science & Medicine, 293, 114647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114647
  • Pfabigan, J., Wosko, P., Pichler, B., Reitinger, E., & Pleschberger, S. (2022). Under reconstruction: The impact of COVID-19 policies on the lives and support networks of older people living alone. International Journal of Care and Caring, 6(1–2), 211–228. https://doi.org/10.1332/239788221X1630860288612
  • Reitinger, E., & Heimerl, K. (2022). Care-ethische Fragen in der Forschungspraxis mit Menschen mit Demenz. In S. Dinges, U. Körtner, & A. Riedel (Eds.), Pflege- und Gesundheitsethik: Potentiale, Reflexionsräume und Handlungsimpulse für ein solidarisches Gesundheitswesen (S. 37–54). Nomos.