Burnout Prevention Among Caregivers in End-of-Life Care: Application of the Occupational Therapy Lens
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: End-of-life care can feel like walking someone to the edge of a forest you cannot enter, being left with grief, loss, and uncertainty. The term “hospice” comes from the Latin hospes, meaning host or guest (Stillwater Hospice, 2025). The modern hospice movement emerged in the mid-20th century through the work of Cicely Saunders, who founded St. Christopher’s Hospice in 1967 and introduced a holistic model addressing patients’ physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs (Stillwater Hospice, 2025). Since then, palliative care has expanded and is now recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (Loscalzo, 2008). While hospice care is provided for individuals with a terminal diagnosis, palliative care more broadly supports individuals with life-limiting conditions, with both approaches focusing on relieving suffering and improving quality of life (Loscalzo, 2008). Providing effective end-of-life care requires collaboration among multiple healthcare professionals, including occupational therapy (OT) practitioners, with emphasis on addressing psychosocial and spiritual concerns to improve quality of life for patients and their loved ones (End-of-life care and the role of occupational therapy, 2023; Leung & Chan, 2020; Wright et al., 2008). While the importance of this care is widely recognized, the emotional demands placed on healthcare workers in these environments are significant. There is a growing need to understand how burnout prevention programs implemented through an OT lens can support emotional well-being and resilience among end-of-life caregivers. This review will synthesize the effectiveness of OT-based burnout prevention interventions, including education and the application of emotional regulation, mindfulness, and coping strategies.
Author: Tanzler, Jessica
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161098679