Wexford participants sought for ground-breaking end-of-life project

The Irish Hospice Foundation is seeking people from Wexford to participate in a unique research project examining the experience of approaching the end of life through photography and storytelling.

The Photovoice project is open to people who are broadly believed to be within the final 12 to 18 months of their lives. Supported by an experienced research team, participants will be invited to photograph objects, symbols or scenes that hold personal meaning for them.

They will then have an opportunity to explain the significance of their photographs to a researcher, helping to capture their thoughts, feelings and experiences in their own words.

Irish Hospice Foundation Director of Research and Policy Sara Leitão said research directly involving people nearing the end of life remains rare, meaning their views and experiences can often be missing from discussions about care.

More than 1,000 people died in County Wexford last year, highlighting the importance of ensuring that local end-of-life experiences are understood and reflected in health and social-care services.

The photographs and accompanying quotations will be fully anonymised before being presented in an exhibition. It is expected to launch in Dublin early next year before travelling to a number of counties.

The project aims to encourage more open conversations about death, dying and bereavement, while also helping to identify gaps in end-of-life care and support.