Finding dignity and peace at the end of life

On May 15, 2024, a family gathered at the palliative care ward of Gulou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing to take a cherished family photo. The moment was for 87-year-old Yang Nushi, who had suffered a stroke four years ago and had been admitted to the ward just days earlier.

The hospital staff, upon learning of Yang's lifelong love for Peking Opera, decorated her room with photos from her younger days, including images of her performing in elaborate costumes. They added a touch of spring, with blooming pink peach blossoms and lush greenery.

Yang's husband, Li Xiansheng, held a bouquet of pink flowers as he gazed tenderly into her eyes. The couple, both originally from Suzhou in Jiangsu province, shared a love spanning more than six decades. The two married in 1962.

"We were classmates in high school and later attended Peking University together," Li said. "After graduation, we even worked at the same place."

Three of Yang's nieces traveled from Suzhou to participate in the photo session, creating a moment of shared gratitude and connection. Though her speech was labored, Yang expressed her thanks in her own way. The medical team, a social worker and a volunteer also joined in for the photos, marking a poignant moment of unity and care.

The family photo was one of many efforts to honor Yang's final chapter, supported by the medical professionals at the hospital's hospice care ward.

New approach

Gulou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is among Beijing's first pilot institutions offering hospice care.

"We integrate traditional Chinese medicine techniques, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping therapy, to alleviate pain and symptoms like abdominal bloating and constipation," explained Han Danyang, director of oncology at the hospital.

"Our multidisciplinary approach aims to help patients feel comfortable, peaceful and dignified in their final days," Han said.

The palliative care ward provides holistic support for terminally ill patients and their families, addressing medical, physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

"The goal is to help people facing the end of life to do so with comfort, peace and dignity," Han added.

Hospice care emphasizes quality of life and dignity. It operates on the philosophy that death is a natural part of life and that people should live fully and comfortably for as long as they can, surrounded by loved ones.

"We cannot control when life begins, but we can choose how we think about death," said Lu Guijun, director of the pain management department at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital.

With 27 years of experience in palliative care, Lu has witnessed countless unique and meaningful farewells. "Some patients held personal photography exhibitions, others hosted farewell dance parties. Some wanted to spend their final moments with their pets or chose specific music for their funerals. Others simply asked for one last sip of cola or coffee," Lu recounted.

For Lu, death is not a taboo. "Hospitals are places of healing, but they are also places of farewell. If we don't understand death, we cannot truly appreciate the boundaries of saving lives," he said.

Since launching its palliative care ward in 2019, Lu's hospital has cared for over 300 patients, most of whom were in the late stages of solid tumors. The average survival time in the ward is about one month.

"People at the end of life need more than just medication. They need a life that is calm, authentic and filled with love," Lu emphasized. "Relieving physical pain is the foundation of palliative care, but it is equally important to ease the emotional suffering of patients and their families."

Palliative care, Lu noted, is about respecting the wishes of patients and their families while minimizing pain and maximizing comfort.