Young Voices for Hospice: A Youth Advisory Board to Promote Hospice Awareness and Education

Key Message: Young Voices for Hospice, a Youth Advisory Board, successfully engaged adolescents in hospice education and advocacy through peer-led initiatives. This scalable model fosters awareness, reduces stigma, and inspires future healthcare leaders. By integrating youth perspectives, hospice programs can promote intergenerational understanding and strengthen community connections around end-of-life care.

Abstract:

Background:
Hospice care remains poorly understood by the general public, particularly among adolescents and young adults (1,2). Misconceptions and stigma surrounding end-of-life care contribute to underutilization and delayed referrals (3,4). To address this knowledge gap and engage younger generations, a Youth Advisory Board at Catholic Hospice (Young Voices for Hospice) was established to promote hospice awareness, education, and advocacy within schools, communities, and digital platforms.

Methods:
The Youth Advisory Board was created in partnership with local high schools and early college programs. Participants received foundational training in hospice philosophy, palliative care principles, and communication strategies. The board met monthly to design and implement peer-targeted educational digital campaigns, awareness events, social media outreach, and service initiatives supporting Nursing Week and National Physicians Day.

Results:
Over a 10-month pilot period, the board included 14 students aged 15–20. Members were selected through an application and interview process based on their interest in healthcare, social justice, or community service. The main subcommittees included: Advocacy/Education, Volunteerism, and Leaving a Legacy. Qualitative feedback revealed increased openness to discussing end-of-life issues and growing interest in health-related careers. The board launched a successful Instagram page. Members reported a strengthened sense of purpose, enhanced community connectedness, and greater leadership confidence.

Conclusion:
The Young Voices for Hospice Youth Advisory Board represents a scalable and innovative model for engaging youth in hospice education and advocacy. Through peer-led initiatives, participants can challenge stigma, promote intergenerational understanding, and cultivate future leaders in compassionate care. Future expansion will focus on integrating youth perspectives into hospice program development.

References: 1. Alexander, G. C., et al. (2019). Knowledge of and beliefs about palliative care in a nationally-representative U.S. sample. PLOS One, 14(3), e0219074.
2. Cagle, J. G., et al. (2018). Awareness and misperceptions of hospice and palliative care: a population-based survey study. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 21(4), 460–468.
3. Kaiser, C., et al. (2024). Factors affecting hospice use among adolescents and young adult cancer patients. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 11(2), 88–96.
4. NCBI Bookshelf (2021). Evidence review: Barriers to accessing end of life care services.