Seminar hosted by The Good Death Impact Network and The Care Lab at UNSW.
Presenter: Dr John I MacArtney, Associate Professor, Warwick Medical School, UK.
Hospices in the UK have historically found it difficult to reach and support men. Male caregivers, patients, and bereaved people can be less likely to admit their challenges, which contributes to social isolation or loneliness. Increasingly in the last 10 years hospices in the UK have been providing “Men’s Sheds”. These volunteer-led groups provide activity and peer support, helping members to communicate about emotional, social, spiritual, practical, and physical issues. Drawing on a research and an impact study, this presentation will explore the role of hospice Men’s Sheds in supporting men through end-of-life care experiences and provide recommendations about how to start one at a hospice or palliative care facility.
Men’s Sheds were found to ease emotional barriers the participants faced, as well as alleviate loneliness, and provide a gateway to other forms of support. The Men’s Shed enabled men to both give and receive emotional support. Cultural contexts and gender norms shaped the acceptability and experience of receiving help. Informal but structured meetings led to honest conversations, where they could share experiences and explore issues relating to their wellbeing. Hospice Men’s Sheds have potential to reduce inequity by enabling access to support for an underserved group. They are becoming established as low-cost interventions, considered effective in improving wellbeing, reducing isolation, and increasing uptake of other services. Preferences for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ rather than ‘face-to-face’ communication could be incorporated into other settings.
Bio
Dr John MacArtney, Marie Curie Associate Professor, University of Warwick, is an internationally recognised sociologist of dying, palliative care, and the aftermath (including bereavement). He is also a Senior Visiting Fellow, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Design, and Architecture at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). His research has been funded by Marie Curie (UK), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UK Research and Innovation Economic and Social Research Council, and the Australian Research Council.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-0879-4277 e: john.macartney@warwick.ac.uk BSky: @johnmacartney.bsky.sociale
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