The Good Wishes Project: An End-of-Life Intervention for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness.

Background

Individuals experiencing homelessness face marginalization, dehumanization, and barriers to accessing quality palliative care. Inspired by the 3 Wishes Project, the Good Wishes Project (GWP) facilitates granting wishes to individuals experiencing homelessness and receiving palliative care with a goal of enhancing comfort and personalizing the end-of-life experience.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to elicit provider perspectives on the utility of the GWP in the delivery of end-of-life care to a population of homeless and vulnerably housed individuals.

Design

For this qualitative study, GWP client information and wish data were collected anonymously and analyzed quantitatively and descriptively. Semistructured interviews were conducted with health and social service professionals who cared for GWP clients. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through qualitative content analysis.

Results

At the time of evaluation, there were a total of 27 clients in the GWP. At 14 months after the project's launch, 40 wishes had been made, 24 of which had been granted. Wishes were classified into five categories: basic necessities, end-of-life preparations, personal connections, paying-it-forward, and leisure. From the provider perspective (n = 7), the project was found to have utility in three main domains: establishing and enhancing connection, satisfying basic needs, and promoting person-centered care.

Conclusions

The GWP is a promising psychosocial intervention in providing quality palliative care to individuals experiencing homelessness, whose lives have largely been burdened with hardship and marginalization.