Dying Peacefully: Case Study of Eldoret Hospice, Kenya

Abstract

The last stages of life can be very stressful for the dying person and those caring for him/her. Dying is a process and it's associated with emotions of anxiety, anger, fear and many other negative emotions.  Sometimes we live as if we will never die but when some catastrophes hits our doors, an alarm is raised that death is knocking on our doors. This study sought to establish the views of people infected or affected by cancer on dying process, life in the last stages of life as well as coping with trauma associated with cancer.  The study was carried out at Eldoret Hospice in Eldoret town in March- November 2014. The study was qualitative in nature and was guided by existential theory focusing on logo therapy.  An interview schedule was the major instrument for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to identify 6 respondents for the study.  The inclusion criterion was that the respondents must be affected or infected by cancer and was under care of caregivers in Eldoret hospice. The findings of the study revealed that 80% of the infected and affected people were able to experience peace in dying process and lived hopeful with the condition during the last stages of life. Only 20% experienced anger, bitterness, anxieties, hopelessness and helplessness during this time and claimed that cancer was quiet traumatic experience to deal with. Peace and hope was attained by six respondents through Palliative care (100%), grief and bereavement counselling (100%).  A conclusion is therefore arrived at that dying process and the last stages of life can be experienced with peace and hope if proper palliative care and bereavement counselling is offered to the infected and affected personnel by cancer.  From the findings of the study it is recommended that palliative care and bereavement counselling should be made available to people going through traumatic experience like cancer.