Launched in November 2014, Understand Me and Speak To Me are free mobile apps developed in association with the Communicate Your Health (Ireland) Partnership and supported and funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Social Inclusion Unit, Ireland, and the Irish Hospice Foundation. Building on the foundations of the first apps and the findings of the Interpreters in Palliative Care: ‘On Speaking Terms- Matters of Life and Death’ report, the third app in the CYH series, Hear Me – formerly On Signing Terms, was launched in October 2016.
All three mobile apps are free, accessible resources to assist and support health care and palliative care professionals in caring for patients from diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups and feature good practice guidelines and information for person-centred intercultural care including the provision of interpreter services.
Background information and key findings
The Interpreters in Palliative Care development project ‘On Speaking Terms – Matters of Life and Death’ successfully identified the challenges faced by palliative care professionals and community health interpreters when communicating around matters of life and death with patients who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and who may also come from diverse ethnic, religious and social groups.
Attitudes to talking about death and dying can vary considerably across cultures and while palliative care services are well developed in Ireland; palliative care can have different meanings and levels of service in other cultures and countries.
Key features of the CYH apps
- FREE to use.
- Available to download from both iTunes Store and Google Play Store.
- Mobile and instant access to key information on core aspects of palliative care.
- Key information on a wide range of ethnic, religious and cultural practices and beliefs.
- Directions and contact details to all listed palliative care services in Ireland.
Links to further resources and information including good practice guidelines for use of interpreter services, information videos and additional online resources.
Suitable for use by all health care professionals across a range of areas and services from interpreters, nurses, doctors, social workers to palliative care specialists and beyond.
Watch the information video here: https://vimeo.com/187783555
